LOTOS2 Ultra-High-Speed Two-Photon Microscope Achieves 10,000 FPS, Pioneering China's Self-Reliant High-End Scientific Instrumentation

At the forefront of life sciences research, high-end scientific instruments serve as the “key” to exploring the microscopic world. For a long time, the market for high-end life science instruments has been nearly monopolized by the United States, Japan, and European countries due to their high technical complexity and intricate systems. The resulting high prices, prolonged procurement cycles, and barriers to technical service have placed these instruments out of reach for many downstream users in China. This technological gap not only constrains scientific research progress in China but also hinders the upgrading and transformation of related industries.

Now, this landscape is gradually being rewritten.To break the technological monopoly, NewLight (Chongqing) Optical Instrument Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “NewLight”) has assembled a multidisciplinary founding team led by national-level high-caliber talents, along with a highly professional team possessing extensive industrialization experience. By leveraging the scientific research strengths of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and domestic universities, and after more than ten years of dedicated technological development, NewLight has achieved a major breakthrough in the field of high-end scientific instruments—launching the fully self-developed “LOTOS2 Series Two-Photon Microscope.”

LOTOS2 Series Two-Photon Microscope

Image courtesy of NewLight

The launch of the LOTOS2 series not only empowers Chinese scientific research to “travel light” with its superior performance, disruptive pricing, and end-to-end services, but also signifies that China has broken free from reliance on foreign technologies in the field of high-end two-photon microscopy, possessing its own “hard power.”

Two-photon imaging is an advanced technology used for in vivo imaging in live animals. The LOTOS2 series two-photon microscope incorporates key technologies pioneered by NewLight, such as ultra-high-speed imaging control and deep-imaging noise suppression, thereby redefining the new standard for two-photon microscopic imaging. Furthermore, this product achieves complete independent intellectual property rights across every stage, from optical path design and scanning system construction to core algorithm development. It has received high acclaim from numerous leading laboratories both domestically and internationally, fully demonstrating the team’s robust technical R&D capabilities and innovative strength.

In biological research, biological phenomena such as the rapid transmission of neural signals and real-time cellular activities are transient. Therefore, imaging speed has a critically important impact on the performance and application scope of two-photon imaging technology. The NewLight team utilized their self-designed acousto-optic deflector (AOD) to increase the maximum scanning speed of the LOTOS2 series two-photon microscopes to10,000 frames/second, capable of capturing 10,000 two-dimensional images per second, outperforming similar products worldwide.

Leveraging this advantage, the LOTOS2 series can clearly record rapid dynamic processes occurring within living organisms. Particularly in brain science research, it enables real-time capture of neuronal firing events and detection of the direction and velocity of calcium signal transmission in dendrites, thereby providing critical technical support for elucidating the mechanisms of neural signal conduction.

Clear Tracking of High-Speed Movement Trajectories (9 mm/s) of Red Blood Cells in Cortical Vessels of Live Animal Brains

Image courtesy of NewLight

To achieve imaging of deeper tissues, the LOTOS2 series two-photon microscopes employ a design more conducive to two-photon excitation.100 fs Narrow-Pulse Femtosecond Pulsed Laser, maximizing the tissue penetration of femtosecond pulsed lasers, and through the front-end placement of low-light detectors,Breakthrough in In Vivo Brain Imaging Depth Beyond 1,000 Micrometers, significantly improving the image signal-to-noise ratio. It is reported that, compared with traditional equipment, the LOTOS2 series'Observation Clarity Improved by Approximately 300%, is a powerful tool for studying the physiological and pathological processes of deep tissues.

High-Resolution Imaging of Dendritic Spines in the Mouse Cortex

Photo provided by NewLight

To achieve more comprehensive analysis and diagnosis of biological tissues, the LOTOS2 series two-photon microscope also employs opto-electronic combined technology, namely low-power temporal oversampling (LOw-power Temporal OverSampling, LOTOS) technology, it is equipped with an electrophysiology module that integrates two-photon imaging with synchronized electrophysiological recording. This system enables the simultaneous capture of sub-millisecond electrical signals from single neurons via patch-clamp amplifiers and population calcium signals, thereby achieving multi-scale recording of neuronal activity.

Furthermore, the LOTOS2 series also featuresModular Expansion Capability, compatible withWidefield or intrinsic imaging of living specimens or organoids, fiber photometry, optogenetics, visual/auditory stimulation, adaptive opticsand other multimodal research, to meetNeuroscience, Oncology, Immunologythe research demands of popular disciplines, as well asInter-organ Crosstalkthe frontier exploration needs of emerging interdisciplinary fields.

To further expand the depth and breadth of brain science research, the NewLight team has independently developedMulti-Brain Region Parallel Scanning Technology. Leveraging this technology, the LOTOS2 series enables simultaneous imaging of 3–7 brain regions at varying depths during in vivo animal experiments, facilitating the mapping of cross-regional information integration and helping researchers gain a holistic understanding of functional connectivity and information transmission in the brain.

Recording Neuronal Activity Across Multiple Brain Regions

Photo courtesy of NewLight

Leveraging advantages such as deep-tissue imaging, low phototoxicity, and high resolution, two-photon microscopy has become a core tool in fields including brain science, oncology, and immunology. However, with the dramatic increase in the volume and complexity of neuronal functional activity data, the efficient processing, analysis, and interpretation of this massive amount of neural information have emerged as a significant challenge facing the field today.

In response, the NewLight team has independently developed an AI-driven data analytics platform. By establishing NeuroSeg, an automated analysis method for two-photon imaging data, the platform automatically identifies neuronal activity and performs high-speed, high-performance, automated statistical analysis of signal features. This significantly enhances data analysis efficiency, freeing researchers from cumbersome data processing tasks.

Results of NeuroSeg’s Generalized Neuron Segmentation Across Different Datasets

Image courtesy of NewLight

Having established a technological leadership advantage, NewLight leverages its localized supply chain, large-scale production capabilities, and proprietary patented technologies to significantly reduce the cost of the LOTOS2 series two-photon microscopes while ensuring exceptional performance.Its selling price and operational and maintenance costs offer a significant advantage over imported equipment., reducing equipment investment costs for research institutions.

In addition, NewLight also through“Shared Instruments” and “Phased Procurement”model, further lowering the barrier to entry and enabling provincial- and municipal-level laboratories as well as young innovation teams to easily access “top-tier” equipment, thereby maximizing the value of every dollar spent on research funding.

To further build a closed-loop ecosystem for two-photon imaging technology, NewLight has recruited experts in biomedical science, optical engineering, clinical medicine, and other fields from top research institutions in Germany, the United States, and elsewhere, forming a multidisciplinary professional team.Providing full-cycle services to researchers, from equipment selection to the realization of research outcomes.

InPre-Sales CustomizationAt this stage, the NewLight team conducts in-depth research into the client’s research direction and provides customized solutions featuring hardware-software synergy based on individualized needs. DuringOn-Site DeploymentDuring the process, NewLight dispatched a senior professional team to provide on-site guidance, ensuring that the equipment is “ready for use upon startup” and seamlessly integrates with scientific research work. On the equipmentUsage CycleNewLight can collaborate on experimental design, providing comprehensive advice and technical support from a professional perspective to facilitate the publication of high-impact research papers and the translation of scientific achievements.

Most importantly, NewLight provides users withFull Lifecycle Technical Support Services, commitment24-Hour Response Mechanism, minimize the negative impact of equipment failures on the research process and ensure the efficient advancement of scientific work.

As the state’s emphasis on scientific and technological innovation continues to rise, China’s research instrument industry has experienced rapid development in recent years, demonstrating significant potential. It is reported that the LOTOS2 series two-photon microscopes primarily served overseas universities and research institutions in their early years. To “equip Chinese laboratories with world-class equipment,” the company has shifted its strategic focus to the domestic market in recent years.

Leveraging its globally leading technological advantages and full-lifecycle services, NewLight, as the “windbreaker” of Chinese optics, has sold China’s self-developed high-end scientific instruments toStanford University, Rockefeller University, the University of Edinburgh, the University of Tokyo, as well as Peking University, Zhejiang University, and Fudan University...and other top-tier universities and research institutions worldwide, empowering downstream users to publish papers in prestigious international journals such as Nature and Science.

In the process of sharing “Chinese wisdom” with the world, the application scenarios of the LOTOS2 series have expanded from brain science research toLungs, Heart, Oncology, Immunology...and other fields, providing precise and critical technical support for early disease diagnosis, exploration of pathological mechanisms, and the development of innovative treatment regimens.

As technology continues to evolve and application scenarios expand, two-photon microscopy is poised to become a mainstream tool driving biomedical research and innovation.In the future, NewLight will actively respond to the strategic deployment of major national needs, continuously strengthen R&D and investment, provide free trial support to more universities and research institutions in need, and work together with “Chinese wisdom” to promote the expansion of the boundaries of human cognition.