Flow Imaging Microscopy Blog

Making it Work in Maine. Chief Executive Magazine recently interviewed Kent Peterson on how a small manufacturing company can thrive in Maine through innovation, continuous improvement and teamwork.

Read the article here and see what it takes for a small Maine company to be successful on a global basis.

The uniformity of a printer toner particle affects the distribution of charge the particle holds and as a result can affect image quality of the printed materials. 

Ensure Safe Drinking Water

Climate conditions are conducive to both harmful algae blooms (HABs) as well as taste and odor events in drinking water with increasing frequency and intensity. As a result, EPA regulations are moving toward requiring cyanobacteria monitoring. Proactive drinking water agencies are seeking a streamlined approach to monitor cyanobacteria and nuisance algae. Unfortunately, there is no single method that answers all the fundamental questions needed to make treatment decisions and ensure a safe water supply:

Flow Imaging Microscopes provide the in-depth characterization of particles in protein therapeutics as recommended by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). When evaluating instrumentation in this area, it is important to consider and compare these five important features.

The FlowCam continues to be an important instrument in biopharmaceutical research. The ability to image and characterize morphological features of particulate in parenteral formulations is an important aspect of ensuring quality and safety in injectable drug products.

Today’s drug manufacturers are under increasing pressure to understand the particulate composition of their drugs, and to reduce and control particulate in their formulations. To reduce and control particulate matter, manufacturers must first understand its source. Traditionally, particle analysis has been accomplished via light obscuration (LO) and membrane microscopy. While having been the accepted analytical standard methods for particulate composition as outlined by USP <788>, experts have deemed them to be insufficient.

National Institute of Standards and Technology protein standard imaged by the FlowCam. Proteins and non-proteinaceous particles were captured by the FlowCam. 

Biopharmaceutical manufacturers strive to ensure patient safety, avoid recalls and protect company reputations. Identifying subvisible particles is an important step in preventing recalls of parenterals. One aspect of product safety is defined in the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) 788 guidelines for particle sizing.  This was designed to control for particles capable of causing capillary occlusion, and therefore focuses on particles larger than 10 µm and 25 µm. As such, no characterization is required for particles below 10 µm. 

Launched in late 2017, the FlowCam^® Nano has garnered several awards and recognitions for breakthrough innovation in laboratory science during its first year on the market. As the only particle analyzer capable of simultaneously counting, characterizing and producing high-resolution digital images of nanoparticles in liquid samples, the FlowCam Nano fills a gap in data procurement and analysis that no other instrument provides.

Devastating Red Tide Impacts Coastal Communities of Western Florida

This past summer a red tide spread along the Gulf of Mexico shoreline killing millions of fish and threatening human health (not to mention impacting regional tourism).  Harmful algae blooms (HABs) like this occur with regularity nationwide and cost an estimated $50 million each year.

Florida is a Case Study for the Need to Improve HAB Funding

Beyond the problems along the Gulf Coast, southeastern Florida is experiencing a blue-green, cyanobacteria bloom in the St. Lucie River. Recent testing shows that water samples are 10 times too toxic to even touch due to high levels of microcystin, a toxin that can make people and animals sick. Direct contact with the algae can cause a rash.  When ingested, the toxin can cause nausea, vomiting, and in some sever cases, acute liver failure.

To study the effects of HABs and other ocean and Great Lakes pathogens, the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), one of the National Institutes of Health, have awarded new grants totaling $30 million. The grants fund research on ecosystems in the oceans and in the Great Lakes Basin. 

On September 14th, our team at Fluid Imaging Technologies celebrated its 19th year in business with a day of volunteering at the Maine Audubon Society in Falmouth, Maine. For the past 6 years, the company has dedicated a day of service to celebrate its anniversary. In previous years, we've volunteered our time at The Cape Elizabeth Land Trust, The Royal River Conservation Trust, The Scarborough Land Trust and, The Maine Audubon Society in Scarborough.