AELAB | Analytical Equipment | Micro Volume Spectrophotometer (NANO)

AELAB NANO-500 Micro Volume Spectrophotometer – High-Precision Biomolecule Analysis

AELAB Micro Volume Spectrophotometer NANO-300 front view

AELAB Micro Volume Spectrophotometer NANO-300 – Precision DNA/RNA Analysis

AELAB NANO-400A touchscreen display and sample pedestal

AELAB Micro Volume Spectrophotometer NANO-400A – Precision for Micro-Sample Analysis

AELAB Micro Volume Spectrophotometer NANO-600 – Precision Analysis

Micro Volume Spectrophotometer (Nano)

Introduction

A Micro Volume Spectrophotometer (Nano) enables highly accurate UV-Vis measurements from ultra-small samples (≈0.5–2 µL) without cuvettes. It preserves precious DNA, RNA, and protein materials while speeding up quantification and purity checks in modern life-science workflows.

What Is a Micro Volume Spectrophotometer?

A microvolume (nano) spectrophotometer is a compact UV-Vis instrument that measures absorbance directly from a small drop placed on an optical pedestal. Light traverses a controlled micro-pathlength, absorbance is captured across ~190–850 nm, and concentration is computed via Beer–Lambert Law—ideal for nucleic acid and protein quantification without cuvettes.

Devices in This Category

Pedestal microvolume UV-Vis spectrophotometer (single-sample)
Microvolume spectrophotometer with touchscreen & onboard software
Nano spectrophotometer with optional cuvette port/long-path adapter
Multi-sample microvolume system with automated wiping/positioning
Microvolume accessories: calibration standards, hydrophobic tips, cleaning tools

Technical Features and Specifications

Feature	Details
Sample Volume	0.5–2.0 µL (typical)
Wavelength Range	UV-Vis 190–850 nm (supports 260 nm for nucleic acids, 280 nm for proteins)
Detection Limits	dsDNA to ~2 ng/µL; protein sensitivity assay-dependent
Measurement Time	<10 seconds per sample (typical)
Pathlength Control	Fixed or auto-ranging micro-pathlength for extended dynamic range
Purity Metrics	A260/A280, A260/A230 ratios with pass/fail thresholds
Calibration & QA	Quick blanking; minimal calibration; supports verification standards
Data & Connectivity	USB/export to CSV; cloud/LIMS sync; built-in touchscreen UI (model-dependent)

Benefits

Ultra-low sample consumption with cuvette-free workflow.
Fast, accurate quantification and purity assessment in seconds.
Reduced contamination risk and consumable costs.
Compact, portable footprint for any biotech or academic lab bench.
User-friendly operation with reproducible results across users.

Applications and Tests

🔬 Molecular Biology

DNA/RNA quantification for PCR, cloning, and NGS library prep
Purity checks (A260/A280, A260/A230) to detect carryover contaminants
Enzyme kinetics and small-volume absorbance assays

🧪 Clinical Diagnostics

Protein concentration (Bradford, BCA) in micro-scale workflows
QC checks for nucleic-acid extraction kits and workflows
Method verification and small-volume reference testing

🏭 Industrial & Food Testing

Fast protein/nucleic-acid checks in process development
Formulation verification with minimal sample use
Small-volume spectral scans for additives or enzymes

🌱 Environmental & Agricultural Labs

Nucleic-acid assessment in field-limited or rare specimens
Protein/biomolecule measurements in micro-extractions
Rapid purity screening prior to downstream analyses

Micro Volume Spectrophotometer vs. Traditional UV-Vis

Aspect	Micro Volume Spectrophotometer (Nano)	Traditional UV-Vis Spectrophotometer
Sample Volume	0.5–2.0 µL	500–3000 µL (cuvette)
Cuvettes Needed	No (pedestal measurement)	Yes
Throughput Speed	High (seconds/sample)	Moderate
Sample Preservation	Excellent	Moderate
Suitability for DNA/RNA	Excellent	Good; best with larger volumes
Cost & Consumables	Higher upfront; minimal consumables	Lower upfront; ongoing cuvette costs

Expert Tips for Choosing the Right Micro Volume Spectrophotometer

Match detection limits and dynamic range to your lowest dsDNA/RNA concentrations.
Prioritize auto-pathlength and robust purity ratio calculations for consistency.
Check software features for LIMS/export, user management, and audit trails.
Evaluate measurement speed, reproducibility, and cleaning ergonomics.
Confirm warranty, local support, and availability of verification standards.

Maintenance Best Practices

Clean the optical surfaces before/after each run with lint-free wipes and 70% ethanol.
Use the correct blanking solution and verify zero baseline routinely.
Prevent bubbles and particulate matter; spin down samples when needed.
Store the device dust-free; keep the arm closed when idle to protect optics.
Update firmware periodically and document performance checks.

FAQ

Q: What is the typical wavelength range for a Micro Volume Spectrophotometer?
A: Most nano spectrophotometers scan ~190–850 nm, covering nucleic acids at 260 nm and proteins at 280 nm.

Q: How little sample do I need?
A: Typically 0.5–2.0 µL per measurement, making it ideal for scarce or precious samples.

Q: Do I still need cuvettes?
A: No, measurements are performed directly on a pedestal; some models offer optional cuvette ports for longer pathlengths or kinetics.

Q: Can it assess sample purity?
A: Yes, common purity ratios (A260/A280, A260/A230) are calculated automatically with pass/fail guidance.