About
NanoString, operating under Bruker Spatial Biology, offers a best-in-class ecosystem of spatial biology platforms designed for researchers who need precise, high-resolution measurement of DNA, RNA, and protein. The flagship CosMx Spatial Molecular Imager (SMI) enables single-cell and subcellular imaging of over 19,000 RNAs and 64+ proteins from the same cell simultaneously, making same-cell multiomics a reality. GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiler (DSP) provides region-of-interest-based spatial transcriptomics and proteomics with powerful data analysis tools. The nCounter Analysis System delivers robust bulk multiomics in a simple 3-step, 3-day workflow. CellScape PSP (Precise Spatial Proteomics) brings next-generation spatial proteomics with high throughput and flexibility. The AtoMx Spatial Informatics Platform ties the ecosystem together with cloud-based data analysis and visualization. NanoString's solutions are used across drug development and biomarker discovery, oncology, immunology, infectious disease, neuroscience, cell and gene therapy, and agriculture. Both FFPE and fresh-frozen sample types are supported. Custom assay panels, CRO services, grant support packages, and technology access programs lower barriers to adoption for academic and biopharma researchers alike.
Key Features
- CosMx Same-Cell Multiomics: Simultaneously measures >19,000 RNAs and 64+ proteins from the same cell at single-cell and subcellular resolution using the CosMx Spatial Molecular Imager.
- GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiler: Enables region-of-interest spatial transcriptomics and proteomics from tissue sections, including FFPE samples, with deep profiling and powerful downstream analytics.
- nCounter Bulk Multiomics: A rapid, robust digital platform for gene expression and protein profiling from bulk samples in a simple 3-step, 3-day workflow with no amplification bias.
- CellScape Precise Spatial Proteomics: Next-generation spatial proteomics platform (CellScape XR) delivering high-quality data, higher throughput, and improved flexibility for tissue-based protein analysis.
- AtoMx Spatial Informatics Platform: Cloud-based software ecosystem for managing, analyzing, and visualizing spatial biology data generated across all NanoString instruments.
Use Cases
- Oncology biomarker discovery using spatial transcriptomics to map tumor microenvironments at single-cell resolution with CosMx SMI.
- Drug development and mechanism-of-action studies leveraging GeoMx DSP to profile specific tissue regions across treatment and control groups.
- Immunology research profiling immune cell populations and their spatial context within inflamed or diseased tissue using multiomics assays.
- Neuroscience investigations mapping gene expression and protein abundance across brain regions to understand neurological disease pathology.
- Cell and gene therapy development using spatial multiomics to evaluate therapeutic biodistribution and on-target efficacy in tissue sections.
Pros
- Comprehensive Spatial Biology Ecosystem: Offers an integrated portfolio spanning single-cell imaging, bulk multiomics, and spatial proteomics, covering nearly every layer of biological inquiry in a single vendor ecosystem.
- Same-Cell Multiomics Capability: CosMx SMI's ability to measure RNA and protein from the same individual cell at subcellular resolution is a unique and powerful differentiator in the spatial biology field.
- Broad Sample Compatibility: Platforms support FFPE, fresh-frozen, and other tissue types, making them highly accessible to researchers working with archival or clinical biobanked samples.
- Strong Research Support Infrastructure: Includes NanoString University, grant support packages, CRO services, technology access programs, and a rich library of pre-designed assay panels to accelerate research.
Cons
- High Cost of Entry: As capital scientific instrumentation, the platforms (CosMx SMI, GeoMx DSP, nCounter) represent significant capital investment, limiting access to well-funded institutions and pharma companies.
- Complexity of Data Analysis: Spatial multiomics datasets are large and computationally demanding; despite the AtoMx platform, bioinformatics expertise is often required for advanced analyses.
- Not an AI-Native Tool: While informatics and data analytics are components, NanoString is primarily a life-science instrumentation company—AI/ML capabilities are supplementary, not the core offering.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CosMx Spatial Molecular Imager (SMI)?
CosMx SMI is NanoString's single-cell spatial imaging platform that can simultaneously detect and quantify more than 19,000 RNA transcripts and 64+ proteins from the same cell at subcellular resolution within intact tissue sections.
How does GeoMx DSP differ from CosMx SMI?
GeoMx DSP is a region-of-interest (ROI)-based spatial profiling system that collects deep transcriptomic or proteomic data from user-defined tissue areas, while CosMx SMI provides single-cell and subcellular resolution imaging across the full tissue section.
What sample types are compatible with NanoString platforms?
NanoString platforms support a wide variety of sample types including FFPE (formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded), fresh-frozen tissue sections, and in some cases cell lines and other biological materials, depending on the specific platform and assay.
What is the AtoMx Spatial Informatics Platform?
AtoMx SIP is a cloud-based software platform that provides end-to-end data management, analysis, and visualization for spatial biology experiments run on CosMx SMI and other NanoString instruments.
Is NanoString suitable for clinical or translational research?
Yes. NanoString's platforms are widely used in translational oncology, drug development, biomarker discovery, and immunology. FFPE compatibility makes them especially relevant for studies using archival clinical tissue samples.
