Bionavis MP-SPR vs. Biacore SPR: A Technical Comparison
Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) is a powerful, label-free method used to study molecular interactions in real-time. Two leading SPR technologies are Bionavis MP-SPR (Multi-Parametric SPR) and Biacore SPR by Cytiva (formerly GE Healthcare). While both systems rely on the SPR principle, they differ in optical design, data output, and analytical versatility.
| Feature |
Bionavis MP-SPR |
Biacore SPR |
| Optical Design |
Multi-angle & multi-wavelength (spectral) |
Fixed angle, single wavelength |
| Data Acquisition |
Full SPR curve (angle spectrum) |
Single SPR dip point (intensity shift) |
| Detection Modes |
Refractive index, layer thickness, conformation |
Refractive index only |
- Data Output & Quantitative Analysis
| Parameter |
Bionavis MP-SPR |
Biacore SPR |
| Binding Kinetics (ka, kd, KD) |
✔ Yes |
✔ Yes |
| Molecular Mass Estimation |
✔ Yes (thickness × RI) |
✘ No direct thickness info |
| Layer Thickness Analysis |
✔ 0.5–1000 nm |
✘ Not supported |
| Spectral Analysis |
✔ Multi-wavelength |
✘ Single wavelength |
| Bulk RI Sensitivity |
Moderate (10-5 – 10-8 RIU) |
High (~10-7 RIU) |
✅ Advantage (Biacore): Superior bulk refractive index sensitivity for ultra-low mass analytes (e.g., small molecules).
✅ Advantage (Bionavis): Supports multilayer modeling and quantification of structural properties (e.g., biomaterial coatings, EVs, lipid bilayers).
| Application Area |
Bionavis MP-SPR |
Biacore SPR |
| Biomolecular Binding |
✔ Yes |
✔ Yes |
| Material Science & Surface Coatings |
✔ Advanced (layer modeling) |
✘ Limited |
| Exosome & Nanoparticle Research |
✔ Label-free thickness, protein corona |
⚠ Only bulk signal, no thickness |
| Drug Discovery (Small Molecule Kinetics) |
⚠ Less optimized |
✔ Industry standard |
| Biosensor Development |
✔ Yes |
✔ Yes |
| Cell-based SPR Assays |
✔ Supports cells/lipid bilayers |
⚠ Limited compatibility |
✅ Advantage (Biacore): Superior for small molecule drug screening.
✅ Advantage (Bionavis): Better suited for membrane, cell-based, or nanomaterial interaction studies.
- Chip & Sensor Surface Options
| Feature |
Bionavis MP-SPR |
Biacore SPR |
| Sensor Customization |
✔ High (gold, glass, graphene, TiO2, etc.) |
⚠ Proprietary CM5/SA/COOH chips |
| Regeneration Protocols |
✔ Flexible, solvent tolerant |
✔ Available, more standardized |
| Cost per Chip |
▫ Moderate |
▫▫ High (proprietary surfaces) |
✅ Advantage (Bionavis): Open chip architecture allows use of custom materials and coatings.
- Software & Analysis Tools
| Feature |
Bionavis MP-SPR NaviSuite |
Biacore Insight Evaluation Software |
| Binding Kinetics Modeling |
✔ Yes |
✔ Yes |
| Layer Modeling (Thickness, RI) |
✔ Yes (multi-layer optical model) |
✘ No |
| 3D Visualization |
✔ Yes |
✘ No |
| Automation & High Throughput |
⚠ Limited |
✔ Available in high-end models (Biacore 8K) |
✅ Advantage (Biacore): More streamlined for automated, high-throughput pharmaceutical workflows.
✅ Advantage (Bionavis): More exploratory, physics-based modeling ideal for research and materials characterization.
| Use Case |
Best Platform |
| Antibody-Antigen Binding |
Biacore SPR |
| Cell or Lipid Bilayer Interaction |
Bionavis MP-SPR |
| Protein Corona on Nanoparticles |
Bionavis MP-SPR |
| Kinetics of Small Molecules (e.g., drugs) |
Biacore SPR |
| Biomaterial Surface Functionalization |
Bionavis MP-SPR |
| Exosome Interaction Characterization |
Bionavis MP-SPR |
Summary: Which Should You Choose?
| If You Are a… |
Recommended System |
| Pharmaceutical company screening drug leads |
Biacore SPR |
| Academic lab studying complex biomaterials |
Bionavis MP-SPR |
| Nanomedicine researcher analyzing exosomes/nanocarriers |
Bionavis MP-SPR |
| Lab focused on structure-function of proteins |
Both (complementary systems) |
Learn More
08 Sep 2025