Overview
Nicoya’s Alto SPR is a high‑throughput, benchtop surface plasmon resonance (SPR) instrument that provides high‑quality binding kinetics and affinity data for a wide range of glycomaterial interactions. The Alto SPR uses digital microfluidics (DMF) combined with nanotechnology‑based biosensors to precisely control and manipulate discrete nanoliter‑scale droplets using voltage‑controlled electrode arrays.
Description
The Alto SPR features an end‑to‑end software suite integrated directly into the instrument, enabling remote connection and control. Digital microfluidics allows highly precise measurement of molecular interactions while minimizing noise and dispersion and maximizing analytical accuracy.
Binding analyses require as little as 2 µL of sample for a complete kinetic profile and are performed using disposable microfluidic cartridges. This approach significantly reduces cleaning and maintenance requirements. In addition, the Alto SPR incorporates fiber‑optic biosensors that enhance sensitivity and accuracy during binding measurements.
Applications
The Alto SPR supports characterization and screening of kinetics and affinity, competition assays, concentration analysis, thermodynamic measurements, and epitope mapping or binning. These capabilities apply to a wide array of glycomaterials and biomolecules, including:
- Glycopolymers and glycoconjugates
- Nanoparticles and glycolipids
- Polysaccharides
- Antibodies and proteins
- Cells, nucleic acids, and viruses
Available Sensors
The following surface functionalizations are available for binding studies:
- Carboxyl (amine coupling using EDC/NHS chemistry)
- NTA (histidine‑tagged targets)
- Streptavidin (biotin‑tagged targets)
- Biotin (streptavidin‑coupled targets)
- Protein A (IgG‑based antibodies)
- Thiol (thiol‑ or maleimide‑tagged targets)
Instrument Status:
Available
User Access:
The Nicoya Alto SPR is a GlycoMIP‑supported resource and is freely available to approved users of the GlycoMIP user facility.
For access to this equipment and other GlycoMIP services, please visit the User Portal.