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MiniTEM™

Semi-automated transmission electron microscopy analysis system

MiniTEM is a semi-automated, compact system for analysis and characterization of nanoparticles, viral vectors and virus-based biotherapeutics.

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Offers an in-house solution for TEM analysis.

Enables non-experts to obtain meaningful data.

Automatically images, detects and analyzes particles.

Designed to be placed close to your process.

Offers an in-house solution for TEM analysis.

Automatically images, detects and analyzes particles.

MiniTEM revolutionizes access and intelligence of transmission electron microscopy

MiniTEM offers an in-house solution that enables non-experts in electron microscopy to rapidly obtain meaningful nanoparticle characterization data.

It automatically images, detects, and analyzes particles with defined morphological characteristics and transforms the data into accurate metrics. MiniTEM is design to be placed close to your process in a standard laboratory setting.

MiniTEM delivers:

  • A compact, TEM-based analytical system that can be placed in traditional process development or analytical laboratories—no special infrastructure is required.
  • Semi-automation that enables non-experts in electron microscopy to rapidly obtain meaningful nanoparticle characterization data.
  • Low acceleration voltage compared to traditional transmission electron microscopes, allowing for maximum contrast.

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Saves time

  • Instant result - adjust your process within a few hours
  • No waiting for service supplier
  • Semi-automation frees up your time for other tasks

Increases reliability

  • See your product and your process
  • Objective quantitative data
  • Confirm critical quality attributes

Makes it easier

  • Less focus on the technology and more on the results
  • Semi-automation allows non-expert operation
  • Minimized risk for human error

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If your organization wants to know more about the cost of the MiniTEM system, please send us a request of a free quotation.

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System overview

The MiniTEM system comprises:

1. The MiniTEM microscope; a 25 kV transmission electron microscope (TEM) with 1 nm resolving power in a compact and vibration tolerant design that is suitable for standard laboratory environments

2. Vironova Imaging and Analysis Software (VIAS), which provides semi-automatic image acquisition as well as subsequent analysis and data presentation. Pattern recognition and machine learning capabilities geared towards viral vectors enable VIAS to perform advanced particle characterization, classification, and measurements.

The system enables non-experts in electron microscopy to rapidly obtain meaningful nanoparticle characterization data. It automatically images, detects, and analyzes particles. Users can quickly generate quantitative data and statistics as well as  nanoparticle images that support understanding and decision making in process development and manufacturing.

MiniTEM

MiniTEM in process development

MiniTEM complements existing routine analysis methods in process development. The system can be set up to automatically deliver detailed information about the morphology, integrity, and purity of viral vectors, viral vaccines and other nanoparticles.

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Figure 2 - The image at the left shows viral vectors dispersed among proteasome contaminants. MiniTEM correctly segregates and classifies these species and generates quantitative results as shown on the right.

MiniTEM in product characterization

MiniTEM can rapidly screen and acquire hundreds of images to give an accurate representation of a sample. The acquired images are subsequently analyzed to give meaningful results.

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Figure 3 - Adeno-associated viruses (AAV) can form doublets and triplets when they lose integrity, as shown in the images above. In this study, the percentage of doublets/triplets was quantified to compare two batches of the same product. The left (red) bar represents the analysis result from Batch A, while the right (yellow) bar represents the result from Batch B.

MiniTEM in analytical laboratories

Semi-automated analysis of many images and particles can be designed to reach statistical convergence and produce objective results with reduced risk for human error. This makes MiniTEM™ suitable for product characterization studies.

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Figure 4 - Product purity is a common analysis performed using MiniTEM in analytical labs. In the above images, the product purity increases from left to right.

 

Automated imaging and particle analysis

The automation in MiniTEM goes beyond the settings of the microscope and camera. After the sample (3 µL) is placed on a sample grid, the sample is inserted into the microscope and regions of interest (i.e., waypoints) are easily selected on the grid to be analyzed. Images are automatically acquired at the selected waypoints. The particles in the selected images can automatically be analyzed for morphology, integrity, purity, aggregation, or any other characteristic that has been built into the automation workflow by the user. The data can be presented as a list, a bar plot, a scatter plot or a box plot. Images, particle data, statistics, and plots can be easily exported for further analysis or archiving.

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Figure 5 - The MiniTEM analysis workflow. (A) Waypoints are selected (B) Images are automatically acquired at selected waypoints (C) A large number of images are acquired (D) Particles are detected and classified in the images (E) Defined morphological characteristics are transformed into quantitative metrics

A fast pathway to quantitative data

Translating image data into reliable, quantitative measurements is made possible by the MiniTEM system's ability to automatically acquire and analyze large subsets of images, while modern computational power dramatically reduces the time from sample acquisition to quantitative result (Figure 6).

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Figure 6 - Software reduces the analysis time dramatically versus traditional methods. Here, the entire analysis of two adenovirus samples, analyzed for relative purity, is reduced from nearly 80 hours to just over 7.

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In need of help?

Our TEM experts are here to help you out!

If you have questions regarding MiniTEM or any other product or service in our portfolio, you are more than welcome to contact us.

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