Nanoscience Instruments, a leading provider of scientific instrumentation and support solutions across North America, is pleased to announce a new partnership with BioNavis, a Finland-based pioneer in Multi-Parametric Surface Plasmon Resonance (MP-SPR) technology. Through this partnership, researchers throughout the United States and Canada will gain access to BioNavis' innovative MP-SPR instrument portfolio, backed by Nanoscience Instruments' comprehensive applications expertise, training programs, analytical process development, and service organization.
The partnership strengthens Nanoscience Instruments' position as a trusted provider of advanced surface characterization technologies. Building upon the company's established expertise in quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D), the addition of BioNavis' MP-SPR systems creates a complementary suite of technologies capable of delivering deeper insights into nanoscale surface phenomena, molecular interactions, thin film properties, and material performance.
"We're excited to partner with BioNavis and introduce their unique MP-SPR technology to our customers across North America," said Sebastian Kossek, Ph.D., co-Chief Executive Officer of Nanoscience Instruments. "Researchers increasingly need a more complete understanding of surface interactions, in life science, materials science, energy, and nanotechnology applications. BioNavis provides a differentiated SPR platform that delivers richer information than conventional systems, and when combined with our application expertise and service infrastructure, scientists can accelerate discovery with confidence."
Surface Plasmon Resonance has become an essential analytical technique for studying binding interactions and characterizing thin surface layers in real-time without the need for labels. Unlike traditional SPR instruments that only monitor a limited portion of the SPR response, BioNavis' MP-SPR systems utilize a goniometric optical design capable of measuring the complete SPR curve across an angular sweep of approximately 40°. This approach enables researchers to collect additional information about both kinetic interactions and surface layer properties while improving performance in challenging sample environments.
A key differentiator of the BioNavis platform is its proprietary PureKinetics™ technology, which directly accounts for bulk refractive index effects during measurements. This unique capability eliminates the need for a dedicated reference channel, allowing researchers to isolate true binding signals more effectively, particularly when working with complex biological matrices such as serum, live cells, extracellular vesicles, nanoparticles, and other heterogeneous samples.
Beyond real-time label-free kinetic analysis, BioNavis MP-SPR systems provide advanced nanolayer characterization capabilities. Researchers can determine layer thicknesses from the angstrom to micrometer scale, calculate refractive index and extinction coefficients, and characterize complex multilayer structures using BioNavis' LayerSolver software platform. The systems are also available with electrochemistry flow cells, enabling simultaneous investigation of electrochemical processes and molecular interactions at surfaces.
The open cartridge architecture of BioNavis instruments further expands experimental flexibility by minimizing fluidic restrictions, reducing the risk of channel blockages, and expanding sensor functionalization options. This design enables researchers to analyze larger biological structures and particles that are often difficult to study using conventional SPR systems. Additionally, the open cartridge design allows users to functionalize sensor surfaces in situ or ex situ. This capability unlocks a vast array of advanced experimental methods, such as growing live cells on a sensor, then studying them under various conditions within the SPR system. Applications span biosensor development, polymer coatings, supported lipid bilayers, nanoparticle interactions, virus studies, electrochemical transport phenomena, and advanced thin film research.
Regarding this new partnership, BioNavis' Chief Executive Officer Annika Järvinen says, "We are excited to partner with the highly talented team at Nanoscience Instruments and bring our MP-SPR technology to customers across North America. Our Multi Parametric SPR instruments expand the applicability of SPR to a wider range of research applications, from traditional biomolecular interaction analysis to particle interactions and advanced material characterization. We look forward to working together with the Nanoscience team to help researchers explore new applications, gain deeper insights, and push the boundaries of what is possible with SPR instruments."
The addition of BioNavis MP-SPR systems complements the existing QSense QCM-D product offering from Nanoscience Instruments, giving researchers access to two highly synergistic surface analysis techniques. Together, these technologies provide a more complete picture of interfacial processes by combining kinetic binding measurements, structural layer characterization, mass adsorption analysis, and viscoelastic property determination. The result is an integrated surface science toolkit capable of supporting applications ranging from drug discovery and biomaterials to energy storage, coatings research, and advanced material development.