Selecting the Correct Tip for Your NanoFil Microinjection Application

Each NanoFil needle is individually handcrafted and made for versatility to serve your low-volume sample delivery needs. All needles are made with a universal 26G fixture to support and house each gauge of needle we offer: 33, 34, 35, and even 36G in blunt or beveled styles. WPI currently offers the smallest commercially available needles on the market—perfect for extremely sensitive targets, such as in ophthalmic applications. The universal fixture allows all needles to be used interchangeably across any NanoFil syringe.  Any NanoFil needle can be inserted directly into the barrel of any NanoFil syringe, creating a 1:1 connection with the plunger, resulting in virtually zero dead volume. The sealing gasket seating the needle to the syringe reinforces a tight, uniform fit for a truly gas tight environment. Our design compatibility supports your ever-evolving application needs across varying delivery volumes required. 

Configurations

Based on application requirements, WPI's NanoFil can be used in various configurations.

Non-Stereotaxic Injection

SilFlex Tubing and Holder
WPI offers a 35cm SilFlex quartz tubing with a 26G fixture for insertion into the NanoFil syringe, and can be coupled with our NanoFil Holder containing either a NanoFil needle or 1.0µm OD glass pipette tip that can be fixed to a micromanipulator when non-stereotaxic manual sample delivery is desired, or conversely to a stereotaxic setup.

NOTE: WPI’s UMP3 syringe pump can be integrated into either non-stereotaxic and stereotaxic configurations. 
*Variations of this set up are offered to support ophthalmic applications. Check out our RPE (Retinal Pigment Epithelial) and IO (Intra Ocular) Kits!

"This is a fantastic product. I am using the hand-held syringes for in utero, intraventricular cortical injections in embryonic mice to perturb and elucidate developmental mechanisms during neurogenesis. The tri-beveled Flexifil syringe needles coupled to the holder and SylFlex to NanoFil deliver precise volumes, minimize surgery trauma, and increase post-procedure survival in younger embryos." - Yun C. Yung, Graduate Student, Scripps Research Institute

Standard NanoFil + NanoFil Needle +UMP3 Injector
WPI’s NanoFil coupled with a NanoFil needle, and fixed onto WPI’s UMP3 Ultramicropump can be used for infusions where a stereotax may not be required. Simply attach the UMP3 to a micromanipulator for desired toggling of your axis to reach your target location

Stereotaxic Injection

Standard NanoFil + NanoFil Needle +UMP3 Injector
Similar to the Standard NanoFil + NanoFil Needle +UMP3 Injector setup, simply trade out your micromanipulator and attach the UMP3 configuration to a stereotaxic arm for a vertical fixation. The NanoFil needle/syringe can be advanced to your desired target via your stereotaxic manipulator arms, where the UMP3 pump is then engaged for localized sample delivery. 

Needle Types

The interchangeable NanoFil needles used with the NanoFil syringe are available with either blunt or beveled tips:

• Blunt Tip Style – A blunt tip is commonly used for injection into soft tissue and when a uniform solution distribution is needed. This style is useful especially for front filling your NanoFil needle fixed to a UMP3 for controlled sample loading.
• Beveled Tip Style – A beveled tip is commonly used for applications that involve the penetration of a tough tissue. Alternatively, it can be used in soft tissue where the least amount of mechanical disruption is needled, and the target region is large enough where uniform sample delivery across a singular plane is not required.  

Needle Sizes

• 33 Gauge – A 33G needle is the most common needle size used in the life science space. Particularly, it is preferred for neuroscience-focused end-users where intracranial targeting is a focus, where repeated exposure to soft tissue allows for easy clearance and cleaning with the 33G sizing. 
• 34 Gauge – A 34G needle is useful when a smaller entry into a space is required, but maintaining a large enough ID to be plunged and cleaned appropriately. This needle size can be used for neuroscience-based applications, targeting of vasculature, but still may be a bit too large for ophthalmic targets. 
• 35/36 Gauge – WPI offers the smallest commercially available needle gauges on the market, up to 36G. The 35 and 36G needles are an excellent choice for opthalamic applications where the tissue is extremely sensitive and risk of mechanical damage is high if the proper needle tip and ID is not considered. It is recommended to use the smallest possible gauge needle for opthalamic-based studies and tissues of the like. 

WPI’s UMP3 (Ultra Micropump III) Syringe Pump

WPI’s UMP3 offers nanoliter-scale sample delivery to be achieved both in a stereotaxic set up or fixed to a micromanipulator, paired with our NanoFil syringes. The microinjector not only offers repeatability, but versatility in the configuration of your desired setup. 

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