Thermo Fisher iBright CL750 Gel Imaging System

Overview

The Thermo Fisher iBright CL750 Gel Imaging System is an integrated, benchtop digital imaging platform engineered for precise, reproducible documentation and quantitative analysis of electrophoretic gels and Western blots in life science laboratories. Built upon a cooled 9.1-megapixel CCD architecture, the system employs scientific-grade charge-coupled device technology to deliver high quantum efficiency and low-noise performance—critical for detecting low-abundance chemiluminescent signals in Western blotting and resolving subtle band intensity differences in stained nucleic acid and protein gels. Unlike conventional UV-based transilluminators, the iBright CL750 utilizes a green LED transilluminator optimized for excitation of common fluorescent DNA dyes—including ethidium bromide and SYBR® Green—eliminating UV exposure hazards while maintaining high signal-to-noise ratios. Its optical path is calibrated for uniform illumination and pixel-level sensitivity across the full 22.5 × 18.0 cm field of view, enabling simultaneous capture of up to four mini-blots or two midi-blots without repositioning.

Key Features

• Cooled 9.1 MP CCD sensor with thermoelectric stabilization—reduces dark current noise and enhances detection sensitivity for weak chemiluminescent signals.
• Smart Exposure Technology—automatically determines optimal integration time based on real-time preview histogram analysis, minimizing trial-and-error imaging cycles.
• High Dynamic Range (HDR) Imaging—fuses multiple exposures (short and long) into a single linear, non-saturated image using proprietary Smart Series HDR algorithms, preserving quantitative integrity across 4–5 orders of magnitude intensity range.
• 12.1-inch capacitive touchscreen interface with intuitive, workflow-driven UI—designed for one-touch operation, rapid protocol recall, and contextual help overlays during acquisition.
• Green LED transilluminator (525 ± 10 nm)—engineered for efficient excitation of SYBR® Safe, SYBR® Gold, and ethidium bromide, eliminating ozone generation and photodamage associated with UV sources.
• Ethernet- and USB 3.0-enabled connectivity—supports direct image export to network drives, local storage, or Thermo Fisher Connect cloud platform (with optional Wi-Fi module).

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The iBright CL750 supports a defined set of detection modalities: chemiluminescence (e.g., HRP- or AP-conjugated secondary antibodies), fluorescence (SYBR® series, Coomassie Fluor Orange, Deep Purple), and visible-light absorbance (Coomassie Blue, Ponceau S, colloidal gold). It accommodates standard gel formats (mini, midi, and large-format gels up to 22.5 × 18.0 cm), nitrocellulose/PVDF membranes, and multi-well plates (6–96-well) for colony or cell-based assays. The system’s firmware and onboard software are validated for use in environments requiring traceable, auditable data handling. When deployed with iBright Cloud or a validated desktop installation, it supports electronic signatures, user access control, and audit trails aligned with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 and ISO/IEC 17025 documentation requirements. All optical components meet IEC 61000-6-3 EMC standards and are CE-marked for laboratory use.

Software & Data Management

Imaging and analysis are unified through the iBright software ecosystem—comprising embedded firmware (v3.2+ required for HDR and Smart Exposure), desktop application (Windows/macOS), and cloud-hosted iBright Connect. On-instrument analysis includes background subtraction, band/spot detection, optical density measurement, relative quantification, and normalization against loading controls (e.g., β-actin, GAPDH). Raw TIFF and PNG files retain full metadata (exposure time, lens aperture, gain, timestamp, user ID), ensuring FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data principles. Export options include PDF reports with embedded calibration curves, Excel-compatible .csv tables, and annotated images compliant with journal submission guidelines (e.g., Nature, Cell Press). Version-controlled firmware updates are delivered via secure Thermo Fisher portal, with changelogs documenting validation status per ISO 13485 and GxP-aligned release protocols.

Applications

The iBright CL750 serves as a primary imaging solution in academic, pharmaceutical, and clinical research settings for routine applications including: quantitative Western blot densitometry for post-translational modification studies; comparative analysis of PCR products and restriction digests; verification of CRISPR editing efficiency via fragment size shifts; assessment of protein expression kinetics across time-course experiments; and quality control of purified recombinant proteins visualized by SDS-PAGE. Its green LED transilluminator enables safe, daily use in shared core facilities, while its compact footprint (68 × 38 × 60 cm) and silent operation make it suitable for laminar flow hoods and biosafety cabinets. The system integrates seamlessly into automated workflows when paired with Thermo Fisher’s Pierce™ immunodetection reagents and precast gels.

FAQ

Does the iBright CL750 support fluorescence-based Western blotting?
No—the CL750 is optimized for chemiluminescent, fluorescent nucleic acid/protein gels, and colorimetric detection. Fluorescent Western blotting requires the iBright FL1500 model, which includes dedicated near-infrared (NIR) and visible fluorescence excitation/emission channels.
Is the green LED transilluminator compatible with SYBR® Gold staining?
Yes—the 525 nm peak emission wavelength aligns with SYBR® Gold’s excitation maximum (495 nm), delivering signal intensity comparable to UV transillumination with significantly reduced DNA damage.
Can raw image data be exported in vendor-neutral formats?
Yes—TIFF (16-bit, uncompressed), PNG (8/16-bit), and JPEG (with metadata embedding) are supported. All exports include EXIF-style metadata fields compliant with MIAME and MIAPE reporting standards.
What firmware version is required to enable HDR imaging?
Firmware v3.2 or later is mandatory for Smart Series HDR functionality. Updates are distributed via Thermo Fisher’s secure software portal and require administrator credentials.
Is the iBright CL750 validated for GLP-regulated environments?
The hardware and firmware are designed to support GLP compliance; full validation requires site-specific IQ/OQ/PQ documentation and integration with iBright Cloud or a validated desktop software configuration meeting 21 CFR Part 11 criteria.