Blog

Elevate your SPR data: New update for Alto Nicosystem software

We are thrilled to announce a significant software update available for all Alto™ Nicosystem™ users! This latest 2.4.0 release focuses on enhancing data quality and customer support, ensuring your experience with Alto, our cutting-edge digital SPR instrument, is more seamless and productive than ever before. Here’s a closer look at the new features and improvements.

Improved signal-to-noise ratio

By fine-tuning the optics settings in the software, we’ve achieved up to 30% reduction in signal noise. This means clearer, smoother data curves without compromising on the quality of kinetics information.

Enhanced thermal stability

We understand that every lab environment is unique, and this can extend to its HVAC systems as well. In some seasons, HVAC systems can create large temperature fluctuations that can have an impact on small benchtop instruments. This 2.4.0 software update significantly reduces the influence of ambient temperature fluctuations on the thermal stability of the Alto system when temperature control is enabled.

In addition to this, a new support feature is included to retrieve thermal control data effortlessly, streamlining your support processes and ensuring all the information needed is readily available for troubleshooting.

Innovative support for cartridge fluidics

Our unique digital SPR capabilities now include advanced support for cartridge fluidics, transforming how issues in SPR experiments are addressed. A small camera inside the Alto instrument is now able to record videos to track individual droplets on the cartridge, providing detailed insights into the fluidic movements of each step of the experiment, including every buffer baseline, ligand/analyte sample, regeneration solution and more. This enables Nicoya’s support team to identify and root cause unexpected results more efficiently. This helps in better training and informing users, while providing feedback for improving product quality.

UI/UX Improvements

At Nicoya, we strive to continuously improve on the user experience based on customer feedback with each software update. In addition to general system stability improvements and minor bug fixes, here is a preview of additional enhancements that are included in the 2.4.0 update:

  • Multi-tasking made easy: Now, you can open multiple method design pages and up to three experiment analyses simultaneously in the user portal. This allows for easier comparison of test setups and data sets, enhancing your workflow efficiency.
  • Expanded sensor chemistry options: We’ve added new Carboxyl-CMD cartridges to the sensor chemistry drop-down menu — look for this new product launch coming soon!
  • Updated default setting: The Auxiliary buffer default setting has been updated to an off state, decreasing the test time by approximately 30 minutes if it is not required. For users who require a different buffer for carboxyl coupling, it is recommended to turn this setting on.
  • Better data navigation: Improved labeling of epitope binning heat maps makes it simpler to navigate and interpret your data.
  • Usability of analysis tools: Usability improvements in both local and global analysis tools make your data analysis process smoother and more intuitive.

—————————————————————————————————————

We’re excited for you to experience these updates and see how they enhance your SPR experiments. Our commitment to providing easy-to-use tools and high data quality for your research is reflected in this update, and we look forward to your feedback.

For more detailed information on the 2.4.0 software release, current Alto users can access the full release notes on the Nicoya Support Portal and any questions can be directed to support@nicoyalife.com. Look out for your invite to our upcoming training webinar.