Nikon has launched its latest high-performance, high-numerical-aperture (NA) objectives for use in biological applications.
Featuring high NAs for water immersion objectives (1.27 and 1.25), these employ the company's ultra-low refractive index nano crystal coat and are optimised for live-cell imaging, providing high transmission at a broad range of wavelengths.
This results in high contrast image acquisition, with faster image capture times at lower excitation levels, achieving less photo bleaching and minimising damage to live cells, allowing longer-term observation.
Comprising the CFI Plan Apo IR 60XWI and Lambda S series CFI Apo 40XWIlS, CFI Apo 60XHlS and CFI Apo LWD 40XWIlS, the new objectives feature high optical performance across a wide spectral wavelength with high chromatic corrections for sharp contrast imaging.
Nikon's Nano-crystal coat technology employs multiple layers of extra-low refractive index nano particles that virtually eliminate internal lens element reflections across a range of wavelengths, extending from the ultraviolet to the near-infrared.
It is particularly effective in reducing stray light reflections and flare in high-angle, large-NA lenses.
The Lambda S objectives are optimised for spectral imaging with the ability to allow the confocal imaging of multi-probe specimens.
Advanced optical design and improvements in performance enable the CFI Apo 40XWIlS, in particular, to correct chromatic aberration from 405nm to 850nm.
CFI Plan Apo IR 60XWI corrects from the visible range to 1,064nm, facilitating infrared light imaging techniques, such as multi-photon excitation and laser tweezers.
CFI Apo LWD 40XWIlS features a working distance of 0.6mm for deep image capture.
Stan Schwartz, vice-president of Nikon Instruments, said: 'Thanks to recent developments of new microscope technologies such as spectral imaging, fluorescence observation with the use of multiple wavelengths of light and near-infrared light imaging applications, there is an increased need to observe live cells for longer periods of time, while minimising damage caused by the excitation light.
'We believe these four types of objectives will significantly contribute to live-cell imaging studies that are carried out in research institutes of biology and medicine as well as in core laboratories and universities,' he added.
