Abstract:
Described herein are reagents and methods for improving signal in imaging mass cytometry. Aspects include mass tags with a large number of labeling atoms, chemical modifications to mass tags and additional reagents to reduce background and/or maintain target binding of mass tagged specific binding partners (SBPs), and schemes for associating a plurality of mass tags with a single SBP. As such, embodiments include any combination of one or more reagents and their use. The reagents, kits and methods herein may be used for mass cytometry, including imaging mass cytometry. In some aspects, reagents, kits or methods may be used for delivery of a large number of radioisotopes to a target analyte, for example for therapeutic use or radiometric detection. In certain aspects, only non-radioactive isotopes may be used for mass cytometry.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method of performing multiplex analysis of two or more analytes, comprising: incubating two or more differential element tagged affinity reagents with two or more analytes, wherein each of the differential element tagged affinity reagents includes: an affinity reagent capable of binding to an analyte; and an element tag comprising a polymer linked to the affinity reagent, wherein the polymer comprises at least one metal-binding pendant group that comprises at least one metal atom; separating unbound affinity reagents from bound affinity reagents; and analyzing the differential tags bound to the two or more analytes by elemental analysis, wherein the element tag of one of the two or more differential element tagged affinity reagents is distinguishable from the element tag of another of the two or more differential element tagged affinity reagents through elemental analysis.
Abstract:
Element tags based on novel metal-polymer conjugates are provided for elemental analysis of analytes, including ICP-MS. A polymer backbone is functionalized to irreversibly bind metals that are selected prior to use by the user. The polymer is further functionalized to attach a linker which allows for attachment to antibodies or other affinity reagents. The polymer format allows attachment of many copies of a given isotope, which linearly improves sensitivity. The metal-polymer conjugate tags enable multiplexed assay in two formats : bulk assay, where the average biomarker distribution in the sample is diagnostic, and single cell format to distinguish a rare (for example a diseased) cell in a complex sample (for example, blood).