NanoFLex method enables simultaneous visualization of eight proteins in single cells

Researchers at the University Medical Center Göttingen and the University of Göttingen have developed a new microscopy method called NanoFLex, which allows for the simultaneous visualization of eight different proteins within a single human cell.

Traditional fluorescence microscopy is often limited by a color ceiling, as standard microscopes can typically only distinguish three or four distinct colors at once. To overcome this, the NanoFLex (Nanobody-guided Fluorescence Lifetime multiplexing) technique utilizes fluorescence lifetime—the nanosecond-scale duration a dye glows after being excited by laser light—rather than relying solely on color spectra.

By measuring these precise decay rates, the method can distinguish between labels that may appear identical in color. This approach enables a single-step staining protocol, eliminating the need for the repetitive cycles of stripping, re-staining, and washing that typically cause sample degradation and increase processing time in high-throughput laboratories.