Molecular Instruments provides an enzyme‑free, HCR™‑based platform that merges in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence in a single incubation, allowing simultaneous detection of up to ten RNA targets and unlimited protein markers in tissue sections. The HiFi Encoder amplifies primary‑antibody signals without secondary reagents or stripping steps, preserving tissue integrity and delivering quantitative fluorescence compatible with standard microscopes.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Researchers need to visualize multiple RNA and protein targets within the same tissue section, but conventional in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence workflows require secondary antibodies, sequential staining, and harsh stripping steps, which limit multiplex capacity and increase protocol complexity.
Solution
Molecular Instruments offers an HCR™‑based platform that combines in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence into a single, enzyme‑free workflow. The HCR™ HiFi Encoder enables quantitative, one‑step amplification of both nucleic acid probes and primary antibodies, eliminating the need for secondary reagents and stripping cycles. By leveraging hairpin chain reaction chemistry, the system supports up to ten RNA targets alongside unlimited protein markers while preserving spatial resolution. The amplified signals are compatible with standard fluorescence microscopes and can be captured in high‑resolution, multiplexed images for downstream quantitative analysis. This streamlined approach reduces hands‑on time, lowers reagent costs, and improves reproducibility across diverse sample types.
Target Audience
The primary customers are academic and industry research laboratories, pathology cores, and drug‑discovery teams that require high‑plex, spatially resolved profiling of RNA and protein biomarkers in tissue sections.
Features
- HCR™ Gold signal amplification provides enzyme‑free, quantitative fluorescence for up to 10‑plex RNA‑FISH in a single incubation
- HiFi Encoder allows same‑species multiplex immunofluorescence using only primary antibodies, removing secondary‑antibody cross‑reactivity
- One‑step antibody incubation and probe hybridization simplify protocols and cut processing time by >50%
- No antibody stripping or harsh chemical treatments required, preserving tissue integrity for downstream analyses
- Compatible with both chromogenic and fluorescent detection modes (HCR™ Pro RNA‑ISH) for flexible assay design
- High‑resolution, low‑background imaging enabled by hairpin‑mediated chain reaction kinetics
- Fully reagent‑compatible with standard slide scanners and confocal microscopes; no specialized hardware needed