Waters Aura+ System for particle characterization

Fast, decisive, low-volume particle characterization analysis for biotherapeutic workflows

When you need the flexibility to conduct particle characterization analyses on different types of biologics, including protein and antibody therapeutics, cell therapies, and gene therapies, the Aura+ System has you covered.

Fully configured to support applications across protein, antibody, cell, and gene therapy workflows, Aura+ brings particle characterization to earlier stages of therapeutic development, so you can make better decisions sooner.

Powered by the backgrounded membrane imaging (BMI) and fluorescence membrane microscopy (FMM) technology shared within the Aura family of instruments, Aura+ System enables applications from late discovery to development and manufacturing, enhancing decision-making and accelerating your success.

Waters: Aura+ System

Specifications

• Imaging area: 24.6 mm2
• Optics: 4x and 20x objectives
• Minimum volume: 5 µL (assay dependent)
• Resolution: 1.0 pixel/µm
• Detectable size range: Range from >1 µm (ECD) to <5 mm (ECD)
• BMI read time: 1 minute/sample
• FMM read time: 3 FL channels, 30 seconds/sample
• Software: Particle VUE 4.x all-in-one software suite (image capture and analysis)

Overview

• Save precious material with just 5 µL sample volume requirements 
• Get actionable results from a full 96 well plate of labeled samples to data in just 90 minutes
• Boost efficiency with 96-well membrane plate high-throughput capability
• Gain deeper particle insights with advanced imaging
• Rely only on one platform for proteins, antibodies, and cell and gene therapies development

Recommended Use: For workflows requiring complete flexibility across a full spectrum of analytes, including biologics, viral vectors, cells, and other contaminants.​

Take the guesswork out of your aggregate ID

Don’t waste time troubleshooting incorrectly identified aggregates in your therapeutic. Aura+ System uses a combination of brightfield and fluorescent imaging to specifically ID and quantitate cell, viral capsid, protein, degraded excipients, and packaging contaminants so you’ll know exactly what’s in your sample.​

With high-throughput 96-well plate capability, 5 µL sample volumes, and results in as little as 90 minutes, it offers an efficient solution for detailed particle analysis, meeting USP <788> and <1788> requirements.

Waters: Aura+ System - Identify cell doublets and triplets (1), cellular aggregates (2), protein aggregates (3), and plastic contaminants (4) in a cell therapeutic sample.

BMI: The key to sensitive, robust, early-stage particle characterization

Backgrounded membrane imaging (BMI) provides a clearer, faster, and more comprehensive view of what’s really in your sample. By capturing and subtracting background images of the membrane, BMI achieves 10x greater contrast than liquid-based measurements such as light obscuration and flow imaging. Aura+ System provides aggregate data without any clogging concerns or the need for cleaning between measurements.

Waters: Aura+ System - BMI achieves 10x greater contrast than liquid-based measurements such as light obscuration and flow imaging.

Get fast, definitive particle identification with three fluorescence channels

The Aura+ System comes with three fluorescence channels so you can get the same information from one experiment that would otherwise take three different studies.

In addition, The Aura+ System definitively identifies different types of particles within the same sample for more reliable decision-making:

• Three fluorescence membrane microscopy (FMM) channels for three different species of organic particles
• Side illumination membrane imaging (SIMI) channel for extrinsic and inorganic particles
• Ideal for applications including polysorbate degradation, particulate contamination, protein & antibody workflows, cell therapy workflows, AAV aggregation, AAV stability, cell therapy QC, and cell viability

Waters: Aura+ System - Cells, protein aggregate, and igG (via immunoassay).

Obtain clear details with high magnification

With the high magnification capabilities of the Aura+ System, you can see more morphological detail of unlabeled particles, enabling decisive discrimination between your lead and undesirable particles.

Waters: Aura+ System - Quickly differentiate and enumerate cells versus Dynabeads™, quantify polysorbate degradation, and more.