Engineered to prevent aberrations by “disappearing” in water, WISE is commercially available for super-resolution imaging of biological samples and living organisms.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Axoft, a neurotechnology company, today introduced the latest addition to its advanced polymer portfolio: Fleuron® Water Invisible Soft Elastomer (WISE), a UV-curable material engineered to “disappear” in water when submerged by matching water’s refractive index. Ultra-soft, flexible and impermeable to water, WISE enables dramatically reduced optical aberrations and sharper, higher-resolution imaging for aqueous samples. The novel material is commercially available as a liquid that can be cured in any shape or as sheets of specific thickness, and can be easily cast into molds to create micron-scale structures for a wide range of imaging and micro structured device workflows.
“We designed WISE for the most advanced imaging applications in biology, where even the slightest refractive-index mismatch can degrade image quality,” said Axoft co-founder and CEO Dr. Paul Le Floch. “For biopharmaceutical and medical device companies, as well as research institutions building next-generation imaging platforms of living organisms and biological samples, or optimizing optical interfaces in aqueous environments, WISE provides the optical clarity, softness, inertness, moldability and biocompatibility needed for sharp, high-resolution visualization of biological samples.”
WISE was developed by Axoft through an ongoing collaboration with the Shroff Lab at Janelia Research Campus, whose team is advancing visible-light super-resolution imaging to reveal structures inside cells — work that requires exceptional optical clarity. In addition to its optical performance, WISE is:
- Biocompatible
- Capable of ultra-low small-molecule sorption and water-permeability
- Compatible with harsh solvents
- Micron-resolution moldable
- Selectively permeable to O₂/CO₂
Axoft formally launched its Fleuron-based materials portfolio last year and uses custom Fleuron formulations in its implantable Brain-Computer Interface devices, which have resulted in unmatched biocompatibility, long-term signal stability and a high bandwidth interface that maximizes the information exchanged between the brain and electronics. The company’s materials portfolio also includes Fleuron for Microfluidics and Organ-on-Chip systems, which builds on an ongoing collaboration with Kayaku Advanced Materials.
Later this year on December 1, Axoft will present results on WISE at the Materials Research Society’s fall meeting in Boston. Titled “Distortion-Free Biological Imaging with Water Invisible Elastomer,” Axoft’s poster will demonstrate that simultaneous optimization of optical, mechanical and manufacturing properties can overcome longstanding tradeoffs between imaging performance and device fabrication.
For more information on WISE or to purchase any of Axoft’s Fleuron-based materials, visit: www.axoftmaterials.com
About Axoft
Founded in 2021 and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Axoft is building implantable Brain-Computer Interfaces (iBCIs) leveraging bio-inspired materials to enable a seamless interface between the brain and electronics, and allow for measurement and stimulation at high-resolution in any brain region. Axoft is on a mission to unlock new treatments for patients suffering from neurological disorders by producing iBCIs that answer critical unmet needs. For more information, visit www.axoft.us or follow us on LinkedIn.
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