Bruker Announces EpicIF™, Revolutionary Fluorescence Signal Removal Technology, Transforming CellScape Spatial Proteomics Platform

BILLERICA, Massachusetts-October 28, 2024-Bruker Corporation today announced a major technological breakthrough in the CellScape™ Precise Spatial Proteomics platform for highly multiplexed immunofluorescence (IF). Launched in 2022, the CellScape platform has advanced the field of spatial proteomics with differentiated quantitative performance enabled by a unique combination of best-in-class resolution and high dynamic range (HDR) imaging. CellScape captures the entire continuum of protein expression in a biological sample-from least to most abundant-while capturing fine morphological details. CellScape utilizes directly-labeled primary antibodies, enabling a robust and modular chemistry that allows researchers to build assays by combining panels and/or individual markers, even after the conclusion of an experimental run. With this new technology, Bruker has further advanced the CellScape chemistry with EpicIF (Enhanced photobleaching in cyclic immunofluorescence), which expands the range of compatible commercially available fluorophore conjugated antibodies by nearly 10-fold, simplifies assay development, and increases throughput by up to 2-fold. EpicIF enhances photobleaching efficacy combining a proprietary reagent with visible light to gently erase fluorescence signal from nearly any fluorophore and, like the prior version, the epitopes are preserved while maintaining tissue integrity.

EpicIF is supported by the concurrent release of a new version of the software. The new software, CellScape™ Navigator, also introduces a more intuitive user interface and easy experiment setup. Both EpicIF and CellScape Navigator will be available as upgrades to current CellScape instruments.

"This breakthrough gives scientists an unmatched level of flexibility in their highly multiplexed IF experiments," said Ranga Partha, PhD, Senior Vice President of Product Management and Marketing at Bruker Spatial Biology. "This new advancement builds on the best-in-class performance of the CellScape, which already offers differentiated quantitative performance, reliability, and modularity at any time. Now, by enabling the erasure of previously photostable fluorophore signals, researchers can choose a wider selection of antibody conjugates than ever before. In addition, EpicIF enables compatibility of the CellScape platform with additional fluorescent readouts, such as RNA-ISH. It's a leap forward in versatility for high-throughput spatial proteomics and we're thrilled to offer this transformative technology to our customers."

Oliver Braubach, PhD, Director of R&D Assays at Bruker Spatial Biology, added, "We have developed a solution that overcomes the limitations of traditional multiplexing. The ability to erase signal from a wide range of organic fluorescent dyes without damaging tissues not only simplifies workflows, but also allows scientists to use antibodies validated in other workflows, providing cost and time savings on assay optimization. The use of directly-labeled primary antibodies also eliminates the cross-reactivity observed in other spatial proteomic techniques that rely on secondary antibodies."

Bruker Spatial Biology will be sharing more about this new advancement at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) 2024 Annual Meeting from Nov 8-10 in Houston, Texas at booth #419. For additional information, visit www.brukerspatialbiology.com/EpicIF.