Development and construction of benchtop confocal microscopes for single-molecule fluorescence analysis (FCS, smFRET, SMLM)
FluoBrick Solutions
Munich · Berlin (partner: PicoQuant)New on Amplifa
About FluoBrick Solutions
FluoBrick Solutions develops and manufactures the Brick-MIC benchtop confocal microscope platform for single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy. The instrument integrates the methods FCS (Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy), smFRET (single-molecule Förster Resonance Energy Transfer) and SMLM (Single Molecule Localization Microscopy) and enables the study of molecules individually in real time – for example protein-protein interactions, aggregation and fibril formation processes, and conformational changes. The company originated from a research project started in 2020 in Prof. Thorben Cordes' laboratory at the Department of Chemistry at LMU Munich, in which a direct virus detector without PCR amplification was developed together with Prof. Eitan Lerner (Hebrew University of Jerusalem). The first prototype, the so-called Virometer, was built in 2021 from spare microscope parts; the microscope frame of the Brick-MIC is made of 3D-printed plastic. The platform is aimed at laboratories in the life sciences, biotechnology and diagnostics and can be operated without specialist knowledge. In 2025 the company was officially founded in Munich; its partner and investor is the PicoQuant Group (Berlin), which contributes lasers and detectors.
- Site
- Munich
- Processes
- Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS), smFRET (single-molecule Förster Resonance Energy Transfer), SMLM (Single Molecule Localization Microscopy), Single-molecule fluorescence measurement (FCS, smFRET, SMLM), Benchtop confocal microscopy (Brick-MIC platform), Virus detection without amplification, Labelizer tool for smFRET labeling design
- Materials
- 3D-printed plastic
- Certificates
- Plug-and-play auto-calibration, Labelizer tool for labeling design
- Founded
- 2025
- Industries
- Life Sciences, Biotechnology, Scientific Instruments, Diagnostics
- 01
Engineering and design of the microscope
- 02
3D printing of the plastic frame
- 03
Integration of lasers, detectors and optics (including PicoQuant)
- 04
Auto-calibration and delivery to laboratories
- 05
Support and measurement method consulting (FCS, smFRET, SMLM)
Materials and Processes
3D-printed plastic
Frame of the Brick-MIC confocal microscope, manufactured using a 3D printing process.
Locations
Munich
DEFounding site, development; origin in the LMU Innovation Incubator
- Lot size
- Prototype, small series
- Materials
- 3D-printed plastic
- Brick-MIC confocal microscope
- 3D printing (frame)
- PicoQuant lasers and detectors
Products
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| smFRET (single-molecule Förster Resonance Energy Transfer)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| SMLM (Single Molecule Localization Microscopy)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
1 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Confocal microscope (Brick-MIC, 3D-printed plastic frame) | Brick-MIC | – | – | 2022 | TU Dortmund / LMU Munich |
Additional services
Quality
The Brick-MIC is designed as a benchtop device that self-calibrates via plug-in and can be operated in any laboratory without specialist knowledge. For smFRET labeling design, the Labelizer tool is available as an instrumental quality component for experiment planning.
| Evidence | Munich |
|---|---|
| Plug-and-play auto-calibration | |
| Labelizer tool for labeling design |
History
- 2020
Start at LMU Munich in Prof. Thorben Cordes' laboratory; development of a direct virus detector with Prof. Eitan Lerner
- 2021
First "Virometer" assembled from spare microscope parts, proof of concept
- 2022
Integration of FCS, smFRET and SMLM into the "Brick-MIC" platform; support from PicoQuant
- 2023
Entry into the LMU Innovation Incubator, first public pitch
- 2024
Publication of Brick-MIC, awarded the PicoQuant Award
- 2025
Official founding of FluoBrick Solutions, formal partnership with PicoQuant