Products

HIGH-THROUGHPUT SCREENING PLATFORM

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Styx is a high-throughput screening platform built to address the growing need for advanced functional screening in complex biological research. It seamlessly integrates multicolor fluorescence analysis, pressure pumps, and easy-to-use software into an elegant and compact design to bring you the most robust and advanced fluorescence-activated droplet sorting (FADS) device on the market.

Technical Note: High-throughput screening powered by microfluidics-based droplet sorting

Styx Brochure

Styx Specifications

Pressure pumps

Four integrated pressure pumps ensure precise droplet reinjection, offering accurate flow control with rapid response rates — all without the need for extra components.

4 Lasers & Detectors

Four integrated lasers (405nm, 488nm, 561nm, and 637nm) and independent wide-band detectors, create a cohesive system for efficient fluorescence excitation and accurate capture. This integration allows for a diverse range of fluorophores used in functional assays.

Forcefield Generator

Facilitates droplet sorting with minimal configuration, featuring two independent channels that can operate in tandem or in distinct pulsed and continuous modes, enabling versatile workflows involving combinations of merging and sorting.

Automated Stage

Securely anchors microfluidic chips during experiments and ensures accurate chip positioning for droplet detection and imaging.

Microscope Illuminator

Provides controlled, adjustable infrared illumination, enhancing visibility and contrast in the selection process without interference with commonly used fluorophores.

Magnetic Chip Adapter

Provides a user-friendly snap-on electrical connection to the chip, enabling sorting without the need for brittle electrode pins or fickle liquid electrodes.

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High-speed Camera

Equipped with dual cameras, the system records and enables real-time observation of rapid droplet selection events at up to 4000 frames per second, concurrently capturing two independent areas for comprehensive monitoring.

Integrated Microscopy

Dual-camera microscopy enables imaging and tracking of microfluidic sorting processes at multiple scales with 1080p resolution. The two imaging sites allow investigating mechanistic sorting details and particle outcomes in positive and negative outlets.

Embedded UI

Provides users with an intuitive and interactive platform to select sorting parameters for the desired droplet population across multiple platforms, without the need of software installation.

Chip Holder

Securely anchors microfluidic chips during experiments and ensures accurate chip positioning for imaging.

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TOP OF THE LINE USER INTERFACE

Polygonal gates

Enable precise selection of specific fluorescent populations, offering greater accuracy and flexibility than rectangular gates

Sorting verification

Captures images of droplets passing sorting criteria after fluorescence detection and displays them in a collage for content and selection verification

Subgating

Enables refined population selection by applying additional gates for more precise analysis of targeted fluorescent subsets

4 graph types

Displays fluorescence data in four graph types: histograms for distribution, profile graphs for raw measurements, scatter plots for correlations, and real-time graphs for dynamic analysis

9 selection parameters

Enables droplet sorting based on 9 parameters, including fluorescence intensity across 4 color channels (mean vs. peak) and signal duration

4 available colors

Allows droplet sorting based on selected, multiple, or all 4 available colors (blue, green, yellow, red)

Dual field-of-view

Provides comprehensive monitoring of both the sorting junction and upstream region to track droplet sorting accuracy

Benefits

High Throughput

Rapid library screening with sorting rates up to 1000Hz

Functional Assays

Specific target selection based on activity

Flexibility

Compatible with many functional assays with a fluorescence readout

Convenience

Fully integrated platform with an intuitive user interface

Versatility

Multiparameter selection supported by 4 lasers and wide-band detectors

Compact Design

Compact, portable, and wireless-ready design for seamless operation

Workflow

Droplets with fluorescent targets

Tubes with droplets and reagents loaded into Styx

Droplets reinjected into microfluidic chip

Droplets are selected based on fluorescence at speeds of up to 1000Hz

Positive hits collected in tubes

DROPLET SELECTION SIMPLIFIED

Droplet selection, which relies on high-voltage, has been simplified with our snap-on electrical connection. The magnetic adapter ensures quick, accurate placement and directs voltage precisely to the necessary chip components.

STYX APPLICATIONS

Strain Engineering

Rapidly screen microbial strains to identify variants with enhanced traits, such as higher yield or optimized metabolic traits.

White Paper

Protein Engineering

Screen large protein libraries in droplets to accelerate the identification of proteins with desired traits (new function, improved affinity, stability, etc.)

Application Note