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The Nanoliter injector is a micro-processor controlled injection system that uses direct piston displacement. The collet assembly (exploded view) is shown in the image below. The glass pipette fits into the white, plastic sleeve (spacer). When the collet is screwed in place securely, the black rubber washers are compressed and hold the glass firmly in place.

Nanoliter 2000

A side view of the assembled Nanoliter injector is shown below.

Nanoliter 2010 

As the plunger is depressed, it pushes into the glass to expel the liquid in the pipette. Eventually, the diameter of the plunger matches that...more

When it comes to setting up microinjection systems, the options appear endless. The pictures below give some broad suggestions on how you might set up your own system. Keep in mind that many parts are interchangeable depending on your needs or preferences.

In general, you will need a stereo microscope on a stand, a light source, one or two micromanipulators with stands, and one or two injection systems. The following images show various setups for microinjection, and all the WPI part numbers are included for easy reference.

Remember, when you set up your own system, choose the parts that fit your needs. For example:

• M10 or the M9 magnetic base could be used.
• PZMIV...more

Microinjection uses either a metal needle or a glass micropipette to inject small liquid volumes. For example, genetic material may be inserted into a living cell, a drug introduced into an eye or brain, or fluid injected into a muscle. Typically, microinjection is performed under a microscope. A stereotaxic setup may be required.

WPI offers a variety of pumps along with special syringes, stereotaxic frames, glass capillaries and needles. Here we will highlight our microinjection pumps. The setup you choose depends on the size of injection aliquots, the volume to be injected and the size of needle or glass tip chosen. The products described below are listed in order by the smallest volume they can inject. See the comparison chart below or the related post links at the bottom.

Pressure Injectors

WPI's new generation of pressure microinjectors are quickly replacing the very popular legacy line of pnuematic valve...more

WPI's Nanoliter 2010 Microinjection Pump is ideal for many applications, including zebrafish, xenopus oocytes and drosophila. MICRO4, an optional microprocessor-based controller, can provide an "intelligent" and easy-to-use interface to up to four Nanoliter Injectors. Operating parameters are set with the membrane key-pad and LCD display.

More Info

Specially designed tips as small as 36 gauge (110 micron OD) are offered in both blunt and beveled styles. Our studies have shown that these tips will cause less trauma to the tissue than any other form of micro syringe currently in use. NanoFil has a unique coupling mechanism that allows many different forms of small tubing and tips to be coupled with the syringe barrel.

Direct Microinjection by Hand

This is the simplest and most economical way to inject. Any of our tips can be inserted directly into the NanoFil syringe. Even the SilFlex tubing can be inserted to switch from hand injection to the other methods listed below. The limitation of this method is the difficulty...more

NanoFil™ is a unique low volume syringe developed for improved microinjection in mice and other small animals. NanoFil needles are specially designed with a small outside diameter and spear point for shallow penetration and to cause the least amount of tissue damage. 

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NanoFil™ is a unique low volume syringe developed for improved microinjection in mice and other small animals. Using a UMP3 UltraMicroPump combined with the syringe allows you to make repeatable injections in the nanoliter range. Here we'll show you how to install a NanoFil Syringe on the UMP3 UltraMicroPump.

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The type of pump you choose for your fluid handling will largely depend on your laboratory application. In this article, we will compare the popular pump types.

Microinjectors

WPI Microinjectors use carefully regulated air pres­sure for injecting cells with fluid. Injected volumes range from picoliters to nanoliters. The port supplies positive pressure for high-pressure ejection. The pressure port maintains a low positive “compensation” pres­sure to the injecting pipette between injection pulses to prevent fluid up­take through...more

First, let's consider volumes.

• A milliliter (mL) is one thousandth the volume of a liter (L) or 10^-3L
• A microliter (µL) is one thousandth the volume of a mL (10^-6L)
• A nanoliter (nL) is one thousandth the volume of a µL (10^-9L)
• A picoliter (pL) is one thousandth the volume of a nL (10^-12L)

This is graphically represented at the right. Notice that the mL is one trillion times larger than the picoliter. The table (right) shows that the side of a cube with a volume of 1mL is 1cm long. Likewise, the side of a cube with a volume of 1pL is 10µm long. Just for comparison, it shows that the diameter of a sphere with a volume of 1mL is 1.24cm, and the volume of a sphere with a volume of 1pL is 12.4µm.

With these volume comparisons in mind, lets consider some of the available options for microinjection pumps.

NanoFil™ is a unique low volume syringe developed for improved microinjection in mice and other small animals. It comes in both 10 and 100 microliter volumes and can be paired with a UMP3 UltraMicroPump for making accurate microliter injections. NanoFil stainless steel needles range in size from 33 to 36 gauge.

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NanoFil™ is a unique low volume syringe developed for improved microinjection in mice and other small animals. Here we show you several ways in which the NanoFil can be used for making injections. You can install the syringe on WPI’s UMP3 UltraMicroPump, using SilFlex tubing and a holder, so you can accurately inject by hand. You can install it...more

With the first approved human gene therapy trial in 1989¹ (Rosenberg, et.al.), gene therapy has come a long way in modern medicine and is making inroads in clinics and the market in general.^2,3 2017 was an important year for gene therapy when Luxurna, the first human gene therapy drug for an inherited retinal dystrophy, was approved by Food and Drug Administration (USA).⁴ Now several drugs are undergoing clinical trials. With an estimated $11 billion (USD) market in the next 10 years, both clinical trials and the pharmaceutical industry are expected to benefit immensely from gene therapy.⁵

With improved use of viral vectors (Adeno-associated virus (AAV), adenovirus, lentivirus, retrovirus, HSV) or non-viral vectors, research and clinical trials on the development of therapeutic genes have witnessed great success. Viral vectors have been employed for the treatment of various diseases such as metabolic...more

Micro4™ from World Precision Instruments is an easy-to-use but very capable controller for WPI's Nanoliter Injector and UMP3 UltraMicropPump.

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Eliminate the cost and trouble of making your own micropipettes — WPI can quickly supply your need for consistently sized pre-pulled glass micropipettes for injection of dyes or proteins into cells, oocytes and for many other biomedical laboratory applications. Tip diameters (ID) range from 0.1 to 10 micrometers. Micropipettes are available as plain shank or with luer fittings.

• Schott Duran borosilicate glass
• 0.5 micrometer and smaller ID micropipettes include an internal glass fiber for easy filling
• Tip inner diameter tolerance ±20%
• Short taper yields high strength
• Nominal length ≈ 50 mm
• OD:ID = 1.33:1
• Standard capillary outer diameters are 1.0 mm (thin-wall) or 1.14 mm
• Every pipette individually tested and inspected
• Vacuum packed

Silanized Tips (Luer Shank)

Silanization waterproofs the glass to retard water when inserting into cell. This will not let...more

The system depicted includes components often favored by researchers:

1. MICRO-ePUMP Pneumatic PicoPump with built in MICRO-ePORE™ Cell Penetrator to facilitate microinjections
2. SU-P1000 Micropipette Puller
3. M4C Stand
4. M3301R Micromanipulator
5. PZMTIII Microscope with Optional Lighted Base with Articulating Mirror and optional PRO-300 HDS Camera and View Screen
6. ...more