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Biolight Biotechnology
Biolight Biotechnology, commonly branded BLT-Imaging, is a Chinese biotechnology company that develops optical imaging systems used in life science research. The company focuses on instruments capable of detecting extremely weak light signals from biological samples, such as those produced by fluorescence or bioluminescence. Using highly sensitive detectors and specialised imaging software, BLT systems capture very low levels of emitted photons, enabling researchers to visualise and quantify biological activity that would otherwise be difficult to observe.
BLT-Imaging’s technology is used across several types of laboratory imaging platforms, including in-vivo imaging systems, gel imaging systems, and cell imaging systems. In-vivo systems allow researchers to monitor biological processes inside living organisms, such as tracking tumour growth or gene expression in animal models. Gel imaging systems are used in molecular biology workflows to visualise DNA, RNA, or proteins separated by electrophoresis, often through fluorescent or chemiluminescent detection. Cell imaging systems enable scientists to study cellular behaviour, protein expression, and other processes in cultured cells.
Together, these platforms support a wide range of applications in molecular biology, biomedical research, drug discovery, and cancer research, providing tools that allow scientists to detect and analyse extremely weak optical signals generated during biological experiments.
Use Cases
3D and multimodal imaging
For applications that require both biological signal and anatomical detail, these systems are used in 3D optical imaging and multimodal imaging workflows. They are especially useful when researchers need to localise signals within the body and relate them to underlying structures.
Typical experiments include:
deep tissue tumour localisation, whole-body optical imaging, fluorescence tomography, and studies combining optical imaging with CT or other anatomical imaging methods.
Preclinical in vivo imaging
One of the most common uses is small-animal imaging in preclinical research. These systems are often used to monitor tumour growth, metastasis, and treatment response in live animal models over time. Researchers also use them for drug distribution studies, vascular imaging, infection tracking, and stem cell tracing, especially where fluorescence or bioluminescence signals need to be followed non-invasively.
Typical experiments include:
tumour xenograft monitoring, therapeutic response studies, biodistribution analysis, angiogenesis studies, infection models, and cell-tracking experiments.
Gel and blot imaging
In molecular biology labs, these products are widely used for routine gel documentation and blot analysis. This includes imaging DNA and RNA gels, detecting protein bands on western blots, and capturing chemiluminescent or fluorescent signals with high sensitivity.
Typical experiments include:
PCR and electrophoresis analysis, western blot detection, multicolour protein analysis, nucleic acid quantification, colony counting, and membrane-based assays such as Southern or Northern blotting.
Plant research and physiology
BLT plant imaging systems are commonly used in plant science, crop research, and stress physiology studies. A major use case is measuring chlorophyll fluorescence to assess photosynthetic performance and plant health under different conditions.
Typical experiments include:
drought and cold stress studies, disease-response analysis, screening of breeding lines or mutants, photosynthesis research, and fluorescent reporter studies in leaves and whole plants.
3D In Vivo Imaging
AniView Kirin In Vivo 3D Imaging System
AniView Kirin Small Animal in vivo 3D Imaging System integrates 2D imaging with 3D imaging, covering a series of imaging functions such as bioluminescence imaging, fluorescence imaging, Cherenkov imaging, 3D bioluminescence/fluorescence tomography and 3D multi-modality image fusion (PET/CT/MRI). It adopts an internationally advanced back-illuminated ultra-low temperature CCD camera with ultra-high quantum efficiency and ultra-low dark current; coupled with an F0.95 ultra-large aperture prime lens and high-performance filters, it provides unparalleled detection sensitivity.
Skyview Animal In-vivo Optical Micro-CT
Skyview is a multimodal imaging system designed for in-vivo animal imaging, integrating Micro-CT imaging with optical imaging. It allows for both combined imaging of Micro-CT and optical imaging results, as well as separate imaging with either Micro-CT or optical imaging. By leveraging the complementary strengths of Micro-CT and optical imaging, the system achieves a synergistic effect greater than the sum of its parts.
The optical imaging component offers high sensitivity,making it ideal for bioluminescence imaging or visible fluorescence imaging. The Micro-CT component provides fast imaging speed, high spatial resolution, and low radiation dosage, enabling visualization of the internal anatomical structure . Using advanced 3D imaging algorithms, the system overlays and fuses optical images with CT images, providing precise localization and depth information of optical signals within the body. This enables accurate 3D spatial localization of tumors or other lesions, offering unparalleled insights into biological processes.
2D In Vivo Imaging
The AniView Pro Series are advanced small animal optical imaging systems designed for preclinical research applications including bioluminescence imaging (BLI), fluorescence imaging (FLI), and multi spectral imaging. These systems enable non invasive monitoring of biological processes in living animals, supporting research in oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, and drug development.
The systems feature a light tight imaging chamber, high-sensitivity cooled CCD cameras, and a modular design that supports optional upgrades such as gas anesthesia systems, spectral imaging modules, and multimodal imaging capabilities.
Two models are available in the series, each optimized for different imaging priorities.
The AniView 30F NIR II In Vivo Imaging System is a high sensitivity real time imaging platform designed for preclinical research in the 900 to 1700 nm near infrared II range. It uses a cooled InGaAs camera for improved signal detection and supports high speed imaging of up to 600 fps. The system also includes a motorized temperature controlled stage and multi laser connection capability for flexible imaging setups.
It is designed for advanced NIR II in vivo imaging applications such as tumour tracking, blood flow imaging, drug studies, stem cell tracing, and surgical guidance. The system can also be used for contactless monitoring of heart rate and breathing, making it a versatile tool for oncology, regenerative medicine, and molecular imaging research.
AniView Phoenix Full Spectrum Animal In Vivo Imaging System differs from the other AniView models by combining a scientific grade cooled CCD camera with a low temperature InGaAs camera to deliver full spectrum imaging from 400 to 1700 nm. Unlike the AniView 30F, which is focused on NIR II only, and the AniView100Pro and AniView600Pro, which are based on cooled CCD imaging, the Phoenix covers the visible, NIR I, and NIR II ranges in a single platform.
It is also positioned as the more versatile multi range system in the line, supporting multiple excitation sources, an InGaAs camera capable of up to 600 fps, and a moving stage for simultaneous visible imaging of 5 mice or 3 mice in NIR II. This makes it well suited for labs that need one system for both conventional optical imaging and advanced NIR II applications such as vascular imaging, blood flow monitoring, tumour studies, and surgical guidance.
Optical and X/DXA Multimodality
The AniView DXA Animal In Vivo Multimodality Imaging System combines optical imaging with dual energy X ray imaging in one platform. Its dual energy X ray capability uses low and high energy exposures to separate soft tissue and bone information, and can also support bone density and body composition analysis.
On the optical side, it uses a deep cooled CCD camera, a large aperture F0.95 lens, and a high transmission filter to improve sensitivity for low signal imaging. It also includes a higher capacity filter wheel for stronger fluorescence imaging and spectral separation, while the X ray system is designed so the X ray and optical fields of view align, allowing image overlay between the two modalities.
The AniView Phoenix DXA Multimodality In Vivo Imaging System combines full spectrum optical imaging with dual energy X ray imaging in one platform. Its dual camera design pairs a scientific grade cooled CCD camera for visible imaging with a low temperature InGaAs camera for NIR II imaging, giving it wavelength coverage from 400 to 1700 nm. It also supports both LED and laser excitation, allowing visible, NIR I, and NIR II fluorescence imaging in a single system.
The system also includes spectral unmixing with up to 20 excitation light sources and 18 emission filters, helping separate multiple fluorescent signals and reduce autofluorescence background. Its dual energy X ray module can distinguish soft tissue and bone, while also supporting bone density and body composition analysis. Because the X ray and optical images can be merged, it helps locate optical signals more precisely without dissection.
Gel & Blot Imaging
The GelView 5000 Pro II Automatic Gel Imaging System is a gel and blot imaging system designed for imaging UV, blue light, and visible light excited samples. It can be used with common nucleic acid stains such as EB, GoldView, Gene Finder, and SYBR Green, as well as visible light applications including silver stained gels, colonies, bacteriophages, microplates, spot hybridization, and films.
Key features include a 5 megapixel digital camera, an F1.2 8 to 48 mm zoom lens with auto focus, a laser positioning system for easier sample placement, and a protective gel cutting guard plate for user safety. It also includes analysis software for image processing, grayscale analysis, colony counting, and well plate analysis, making it a general purpose system for routine gel documentation and analysis.
The GelView 6000 Pro II Multifunctional Image Station is a broader, more flexible imaging platform than the GelView 5000 Pro II. In addition to routine gel imaging, it is designed for chemiluminescence imaging, multicolour fluorescence imaging, DNA and RNA gel imaging, protein electrophoresis imaging, and blot applications such as Western, Northern, Southern, and Dot or Slot blotting, as well as colony counting, microplate work, and autoradiography film analysis. It uses a high resolution, high sensitivity CCD camera and is controlled by GV 6000 Pro II image capture and BioAnaly analysis software.
Compared with the GelView 5000 Pro II, which is mainly presented as an automatic gel imaging system for UV, blue light, and visible light excited samples with a 5 megapixel digital camera and 8 to 48 mm autofocus zoom lens, the 6000 Pro II is positioned as a multifunctional modular system. Its main difference is that it adds support for chemiluminescence, multicolour fluorescence, and optional in vivo imaging modules, whereas the 5000 Pro II is focused more on standard gel documentation and routine image analysis. Both systems include a laser positioning system, a gel cutting guard plate, and analysis software for image processing, grayscale analysis, colony counting, and well plate analysis.
The GelView 4000 Lite SmartVision Imaging System is a compact, lightweight gel imaging system designed mainly for nucleic acid gel imaging and other agarose gel samples. It stands out for its smart operation features, including gesture control, voice control, and an intelligent status light, making it a more user friendly and automated option for routine lab imaging.
It uses LED excitation for longer service life and better illumination uniformity, and includes a 6.3 megapixel camera for higher image detail. BLT also emphasizes its very small footprint, positioning it as a space saving bench top system for basic gel documentation rather than a broader multifunction imaging platform.
The GelView 9000 Lite SmartVision Chemiluminescence Imaging System is a compact, lightweight system designed for chemiluminescence imaging, especially for Western blot and related applications. Like the GelView 4000 Lite, it includes gesture control, voice control, an intelligent status light, a small footprint, and a 6.3 megapixel camera for detailed imaging.
The main difference is in the imaging application and sensitivity. The GelView 4000 Lite is aimed at nucleic acid and agarose gel imaging using LED excitation, while the GelView 9000 Lite is built for detecting weak chemiluminescent signals and BLT says its signal performance is twice that of CCD under the same binning and exposure conditions. In short, the 4000 Lite is the basic gel documentation model, while the 9000 Lite is the more sensitive option for blot based chemiluminescence work.
Plant In Vivo Imaging
The PlantView100 In Vivo Plant Imaging System is a high sensitivity imaging platform designed for plant research, using a back illuminated ultra low temperature CCD camera and a dark cabinet to improve detection of weak fluorescence and luminescence signals. It supports both top and lateral imaging through a dual camera design, allowing plants to be imaged from different angles under more natural growth conditions.
Key features include a plant illumination simulation module for photoperiod and growth rhythm studies, a rotating table for long term multi site imaging, and a large field of view suitable for whole plants as well as seedlings, seeds, fruits, and culture dishes. It also uses narrow bandwidth LED light sources and supports common fluorescence channels including GFP, RFP, Cy5, Cy5.5, and ICG.
The PlantView 600 In Vivo Plant Imaging System is a high sensitivity plant imaging platform designed for fluorescence and luminescence studies, with top and lateral imaging, a dark cabinet, plant illumination simulation software, and a rotating table for long term multi site imaging under natural growth conditions. It also provides a large field of view for imaging whole plants as well as seedlings, seeds, fruits, and culture dishes.
Compared with the PlantView100, the main difference is that the PlantView 600 is specified with a deep cooled research grade CCD camera with 6 million effective pixels and higher resolution, whereas the PlantView100 is described more around its ultra low temperature CCD cooling down to -90°C and maximum weak signal capture. In practice, that means the 600 is positioned more toward higher resolution imaging, while the 100 is positioned more toward ultra high sensitivity for very weak fluorescence or luminescence signals. Otherwise, the two systems share most of the same platform features.
The PlantView 230F Chlorophyll Fluorescence In Vivo Imaging System is a plant imaging platform that uses pulse amplitude modulation chlorophyll fluorescence technology to measure whole leaf chlorophyll fluorescence imaging. It is designed for applications such as photosynthetic physiology, plant pathology, breeding, mutant screening, and stress physiology, and can also image whole plants, leaves, fruits, algae, and GFP labelled samples.
Key features include a high sensitivity camera for capturing transient chlorophyll fluorescence signals, a high power pulsed LED light source for uniform excitation, and NIR and IR light sources for measuring leaf absorptance and calculating photosystem II electron transfer rates. It can measure a wide range of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters such as Fo, Fm, Fv/Fm, ΦPSII, qN, qP, and ETR, and it includes a GLP protocol for recording and tracing experimental data.
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