The Cary Eclipse—the only fluorescence instrument for temperature-based applications

Importance of the Topic

The ability to monitor fluorescence signals under controlled temperature conditions is fundamental in fields such as life sciences, biotechnology and materials research. Thermal melting assays, kinetic studies and temperature-dependent fluorescence analyses reveal biomolecular stability, ligand–target interactions and reaction dynamics. High precision and reproducibility in temperature-based fluorescence measurement are essential for reliable data generation, quality control and method development.

Objectives and Overview

This document introduces the Agilent Cary Eclipse BioMelt fluorescence spectrophotometer, engineered for comprehensive temperature‐based fluorescence applications. It describes how a Xenon flashlamp, multi‐cell Peltier temperature control and specialized software combine to deliver robust thermal melting experiments, rapid kinetic measurements and multiplexed sample analysis.

Methodology and Instrumentation

The Cary Eclipse BioMelt system integrates:

• Agilent Xenon flashlamp source with ten‐year life guarantee, eliminating warm‐up delays and reducing lamp replacement hazards.
• Multi‐cell Peltier accessory for precise ramping and cycling, achieving stability better than ±0.05 °C and inter‐cell variation below 0.2 °C at 37 °C.
• Thermal Melt Package software supporting up to 50 programmable stages per run, variable ramp rates and internal cuvette temperature probe control.

This configuration allows seamless switching among fluorescence, phosphorescence, chemiluminescence and time‐resolved modes via intuitive software controls.

Main Results and Discussion

Key performance metrics include:

• Long‐term lamp stability ensures consistent excitation intensity and minimal photodegradation risk for sensitive biomolecules.
• Superior temperature uniformity across multiple cuvettes facilitates parallel processing of up to six samples in a single thermal melt experiment.
• Example data show accurate determination of melting temperatures (Tₘ) for a 13mer PNA–DNA duplex labeled with fluorescein and DABCYL, demonstrating the system’s sensitivity and software‐driven derivative analysis.

These capabilities streamline data acquisition, minimize experiment variability and support high‐throughput workflows.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Cost and time savings through zero warm‐up operation and a ten‐year lamp warranty.
• Enhanced safety by eliminating frequent lamp changes and exposure to UV‐intensive sources.
• Versatile application range including protein thermal stability studies, nucleic acid hybridization assays, ligand binding kinetics and reaction monitoring in academic, industrial and QA/QC laboratories.

Future Trends and Opportunities

Advances in fluorescence measurement technology may include integration with microfluidic platforms for reduced sample volume, high‐throughput automated workflows, real‐time data analytics powered by machine learning, and greener light sources. Expanded multiplexing capabilities and remote instrument monitoring are expected to further accelerate adoption in drug discovery, diagnostics and environmental testing.

Conclusion

The Agilent Cary Eclipse BioMelt system offers a reliable and flexible solution for temperature‐dependent fluorescence assays. Its Xenon-based excitation, precision thermal control and comprehensive software toolkit deliver reproducible results, operational safety and cost efficiency, supporting a broad spectrum of scientific and industrial applications.

Reference

Agilent Technologies, Inc. Agilent Cary Eclipse Fluorescence Spectrophotometer with BioMelt Package. Publication 5991-6738EN, August 2016.