UV-Vis spectrophotometry is a powerful analytical technique used in various scientific fields to measure light absorbance across the electromagnetic spectrum’s ultraviolet (UV) and visible (Vis) ranges. When incident light hits an object, it can be absorbed, reflected, or transmitted. The spectrophotometer measures the intensity of light absorbed across the UV and Vis ranges. Light transmitted through the sample is measured and compared to a reference measurement of the incident light source. By applying the Beer-Lambert Law, which states that the amount of light absorbed is directly proportional to the concentration of the sample and the path length, the spectrophotometer can determine the concentration of specific analytes in the sample.
UV spectrophotometry is ideal for teaching labs to quantify biomolecules, organic compounds and inorganic metals. And while it is a favored method due to its ease and speed of use, it is an instrument that is often beyond the budget of teaching labs.
Teaching laboratories don’t always have the biggest budgets to work with, in the first place. Add in today’s extreme funding cuts impacting academic labs, and you’ll find some frustrated lab managers trying to stretch dollars.
That’s why DeNovix designed its newest nanovolume spectrophotometer to be accessible to all—teaching labs included.
The Helium 1 µL Spectrophotometer delivers reliable quantification of 1 µL nucleic acids and protein samples. Where full spectral scans are not required, this spectrophotometer is an affordable option that makes the technology available to both teaching and research labs.
The instrument is designed for nucleic acid and protein quantification and can rapidly assess dsDNA between 2 and 1600 ng/µL dsDNA while also reporting key 260/230 and 260/280 purity ratio results for sample quality control. The Helium 1 µL Spectrophotometer maximizes lab efficiency with a 5-second measurement time and simple data saving and export options. Integrated apps for nucleic acid and protein quantification streamline the sample measurement workflow, providing rapid quantification.
Additionally, the Helium 1 µL Spectrophotometer employs the same award-winning SmartPath technology as the DeNovix DS-11 Series. SmartPath technology allows the Helium spectrophotometer to compress the sample rather than stretch the column. This ensures that a sample column is formed between the measurement surfaces and eliminates the chances of column breakage. The unique system delivers a maintenance-free operation, as it is calibrated for life and does not require periodic maintenance or engineer visits, which further decreases the cost of ownership. This combination of hardware and software provides real-time optimization of the measurement pathlength to ensure accurate quantification.