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About NMT — Reading the Language of Living Cells

Non-invasive Micro-test Technology (NMT) is a fully computerized, non-contact technology that measures concentration gradients — the fluxes of ions and molecules — crossing the surface of living samples, in multiple dimensions, in real time, and in situ.

The Principle

From a vibrating sensor to a flux vector

A selective microsensor — a glass microelectrode tipped with a liquid ion exchanger (LIX), or a metal/nano-material molecular sensor — vibrates between two points in the medium near the sample surface, a distance dx apart. The voltages V₁ and V₂ recorded at the two points are converted by the Nernst equation into concentrations, and the concentration difference dc is inserted into Fick's first law of diffusion to yield the flux — with both magnitude and direction:

J = − D · ( dc / dx )
Fick's first law — flux J in mol·cm⁻²·s⁻¹
  • Non-invasive & non-contact — no dyes, no labels, no grinding; the sample stays alive and keeps functioning.
  • In vivo, in situ, real time — data in as fast as 5 seconds, continuously for hours.
  • Femto-level sensitivity — down to 10⁻¹⁵ mol·cm⁻²·s⁻¹ for molecular fluxes; 10⁻¹² routine for ions.
  • Any scale of life — from organelles and single cells (>1 μm) to tissues, organs and small whole organisms (up to 10 cm).
  • 1D / 2D / 3D concentration-gradient mapping, with optional dual-sensor simultaneous measurement.
Living sample ion/molecule flux selective microsensor vibrates dx between 2 points dx V₁, V₂ → Nernst equation → dc J = −D·(dc/dx) → flux with direction
NMT measures the gradient above a living sample without ever touching it.
Lineage: NMT descends from the vibrating probe technique invented in 1974 by Lionel F. Jaffe at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL), Woods Hole, MA, USA. YoungerUSA delivered the first modern, fully computerized NMT system in 2001.
The Measurable Menu

Ions & Molecules You Can Measure

One platform, a growing menu of the elements of life — each with its own physiological meaning.

Ions

Ca²⁺H⁺K⁺ Na⁺Cl⁻Mg²⁺ NH₄⁺NO₃⁻Cd²⁺ Cu²⁺Pb²⁺Zn²⁺ Al³⁺Ag⁺Membrane potential

Molecules

O₂H₂O₂H₂ IAA (auxin)

In development / upgradable:

GlucoseGlutamateAscorbic acid Salicylic acidUreaATP
Why Measure Flux?

Flux Is the Language of Life

Life is an irreversible dynamic equilibrium in which ions and molecules are constantly exchanged between internal and external environments. Static molecular inventories tell you what a cell has; fluxes tell you what a cell is doing — right now.

Function in real time

Fluxes connect physiological function to protein and gene function as it happens — an early, functional readout that precedes visible phenotype by hours or days.

Respected results

Our clients' top feedback: results are more respected and more accurate thanks to the technology's non-invasive nature — live samples, real conditions, real answers.

A "Me-Only" platform

Because NMT is a bottom-layer core technology, researchers build unique research platforms on it — generating findings no one else can obtain.

A Half-century Lineage

A Brief History of NMT

1974

The vibrating probe

Lionel F. Jaffe & Richard Nuccitelli invent the vibrating probe at MBL, Woods Hole — the conceptual origin of NMT.

1990

Computer-controlled measurement

Kühtreiber & Jaffe design an automated positioning system; cellular Ca²⁺ flux measurement becomes practical.

1995

Physical & mathematical foundation

Peter J. S. Smith (MBL) completes the theory of self-referencing microelectrode flux measurement.

2001

YoungerUSA founded

YoungerUSA, LLC is established in Massachusetts and delivers the first modern, fully computerized NMT system.

2002–2005

NASA service

Founder Yue 'Jeff' Xu provides NMT research services to NASA's NSCORT center for gravitational biology.

2005

Global service & Xuyue founded

The NMT Research Services Center opens to scientists worldwide; Xuyue (Beijing) brings NMT to China.

2013

5th generation

The NMT 100/200 series launches.

2014

imOmics proposed

Yue 'Jeff' Xu introduces Ionic & Molecular Omics at Plant Biology 2014, Portland, Oregon.

2018

7th generation — NMT Physiolyzer®

The first customizable NMT platform ships; the Zhongguancun NMT Industrial Alliance forms in Beijing.

2021

"International leading" review

NMT passes an internationally-leading scientific achievement evaluation by a Ministry of Science and Technology (China) accredited body.

2022

NMT Communications

The field's first dedicated journal launches (ISSN 2834-5355).

2025

Life = f(Environment, t) & GiP

The New Biology Dogma and the Global imOme Project are published — NMT, imOmics and GiP move forward as one.

Flux sensitivity (mol·cm⁻²·s⁻¹) 10⁻⁹ 10⁻¹² 10⁻¹⁵ O₂ in air (NMT600) routine ionic flux molecular flux Spatial resolution: 1–10 μm (ions) · 20–25 μm (molecules) Temporal resolution: seconds · excursion distance: 5–50 μm Sample size: 1 μm single cell → 10 cm whole organism Two species simultaneously · 1D/2D/3D mapping
Three orders of magnitude of measurable flux — from femto-molecular whispers to gas exchange.
Recommended reading: our eBook "Non-invasive Micro-test Technology (NMT) & Its Application" covers applications from biomedicine to marine biology, plus NMT history, SOP standardization, commercialization, NMT in higher education, and the imOmics / Bio-imOmics projects. Email contact@youngerusa.com for a copy.
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Non-invasive Micro-test Technology is a fully computerized technology that measures the fluxes of ions and molecules — concentration gradients with magnitude and direction — at the surface of living samples, in real time and in situ, without contacting or damaging the sample.
YoungerUSA, LLC, founded in 2001 in Massachusetts, is the world's leading innovator, manufacturer and distributor of NMT systems. Our mission: conducting research, making NMT easier to use, and improving human life with the application of NMT.
NMT descends from the Vibrating Probe Technique invented by Lionel F. Jaffe and Richard Nuccitelli in 1974 at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL), Woods Hole. Dr. Jaffe is a co-founder of YoungerUSA. YoungerUSA commercialized the modern, computerized form of the technology starting in 2001.
A selective microsensor vibrates between two points near the sample surface. The voltage difference, converted by the Nernst equation into a concentration difference, is inserted into Fick's first law of diffusion (J = −D·dc/dx) to compute the flux — the direction and rate at which ions or molecules enter or leave the sample.
A flux is a diffusion current density — the amount of substance crossing a unit area per unit time, expressed in mol·cm⁻²·s⁻¹ (or mol·m⁻²·s⁻¹). Unlike a concentration, a flux carries direction: influx (into the sample) or efflux (out of it).
Concentrations are static inventories; fluxes are the dynamic exchanges that constitute life itself. Flux data link physiological function to protein and gene function in real time, under real conditions, and often reveal functional changes long before any visible phenotype appears.
Ion sensors are glass microelectrodes front-filled with a liquid ion exchanger (LIX) selective for one ion. Molecular sensors (O₂, H₂O₂, IAA, H₂…) use metal or nano-material electrodes. YoungerUSA supplies pre-calibrated, alliance-certified consumable sensors with long shelf life and stable performance.
Routinely pico-level (10⁻¹² mol·cm⁻²·s⁻¹) for ions; femto-level (10⁻¹⁵) for several molecular species; up to 10⁻⁹ for O₂ in air with the NMT600. Spatial resolution is 1–10 μm for ion sensors and 20–25 μm for molecular sensors; temporal resolution is seconds.
Almost anything alive: condensed organelles, single cells (a pollen grain, a neuron, a zygote), cell clusters, tissues, organs, seeds, roots, and small whole organisms such as zebrafish — from about 1 μm to 10 cm. Specialized systems extend to seeds, crops, postharvest produce and clinical samples.
Yes. The NMT Physiolyzer® supports simultaneous dual-sensor measurement — two ions, or one ion and one molecule — plus synchronized environmental parameters on omics-grade systems.
By email. Write to contact@youngerusa.com with the product model, the ions/molecules you wish to measure, your sample type and size, and your institution — our team will reply with a tailored quotation. We do not use online quote forms.
Email contact@youngerusa.com with the subject "Distributor Application", introducing your company, territory and market focus. We will respond with the current distributor policy and application materials.