Oxford Instruments MARAN-iP In Vitro Bench-Top MRI Imager

The instrument is extremely versatile and provides a powerful addition to the current nano-imaging techniques employed for nanostructure characterization. It is important to note from the outset that the imaging technology provided by the MARAN-iP In Vitro Imager for nanostructure visualization is completely unique from other imaging techniques. Current nano-imaging techniques such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Confocal Microscopy (CM) have limitations in that these are instruments that are able to provide static images via the use of electrons, surface topography, optical imaging and/or 3D reconstruction of images via eliminating out-of-focus light in samples. In particular, CM has been applied mainly in the life science disciplines such as biological science, cell biology, genetics, microbiology and developmental biology with very limited application in the imaging of nanostructures in materials, biomaterials and pharmaceutical sciences, especially for the in vitro visualization of solid composite nanostructures embedded within polymeric scaffolds. With CM much of the light emitted from sample fluorescence that is blocked at the pinhole for increasing resolution results in decreased signal intensity and therefore extremely long exposure times are often required with CM creating significant down-time. With SEM, TEM and AFM the images obtained are static and several time-point samples are required to follow the movement of nanostructures. In addition, SEM, TEM and AFM can be destructive due to the reliance on electrons via an accelerating voltage for producing an image. This is not ideal for sensitive composite nanostructures that are frequently produced for various materials, biomaterials and pharmaceutical science applications. Therefore, the MARAN-iP In Vitro Imager will certainly compliment these instruments and fill the much needed gap in in vitro nano-imaging via the use of real-time (as opposed to static), inexpensive, simple and non-destructive “bench-top” Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of nanostructures.