Mass Cytometry Carriers for Quantifying Solution Analytes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mass spectrometry techniques, including mass cytometry, are limited in their ability to detect and quantify analytes in solution, as they primarily focus on cellular samples.
Innovation Solution
The development of methods and reagents that enable the immobilization and quantitative analysis of analytes on mass cytometry sample carriers, using mass tags and capture elements to specifically bind analytes, such as proteins, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates, allowing for their detection and quantitation by mass cytometry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If mass spectrometry techniques are applied to cellular samples, then cellular analysis capability is improved, but ability to detect and quantify analytes in solution deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the analysis process by separating cellular samples from solution-phase analytes. Solution-phase analytes are captured and immobilized onto solid supports (beads or slides) using capture reagents, transforming them into a format compatible with mass cytometry instrumentation. This segmentation allows the mass spectrometry system to maintain its optimized cellular analysis capability while extending versatility to include solution analyte detection through a preparatory capture step.
2Measurement precision
If analytes are immobilized on solid supports for mass cytometry analysis, then detection sensitivity is improved, but quantitation accuracy deteriorates without proper normalization
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces reference particles as intermediary normalization standards. These reference particles contain known quantities of capture reagents and are processed alongside sample analytes through the entire workflow. By comparing signal intensities between sample analytes and reference particles, the system compensates for variations in analyte immobilization efficiency, capture reagent activity, and instrumental parameters, thereby restoring quantitation accuracy while maintaining high detection sensitivity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If capture reagents are used to immobilize analytes from solution, then analyte detection capability is improved, but reagent complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs universal capture reagents with standardized functionalities that can bind diverse analyte classes (proteins, peptides, nucleic acids) through common biochemical interactions. These universal reagents are conjugated to standardized solid support formats (beads or slides) with consistent surface chemistries. This universality allows a single reagent platform to detect multiple analyte types without requiring completely different reagent systems, thereby improving analyte detection capability while controlling reagent complexity through standardization.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables precise and quantitative detection of analytes in solution, demonstrating a linear response curve with increasing analyte amounts, and can be applied in both protein and DNA analysis, enhancing the sensitivity and specificity of mass cytometry techniques.
Implementation Method 1
capture elements to specifically bind analytes
Implementation Method 2
performing mass cytometry on the sample to determine the level of the one or more labelling atoms
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention relate to reagents and their use for elemental imaging mass spectrometry of biological samples. Embodiments include a method for quantifying one or more analytes within a sample. The method may include providing the sample. One or more analytes may be immobilised to a mass cytometry sample carrier. The sample may have been labelled with one or more mass-tagged SBPs including one or more labelling atoms. The method may include performing mass cytometry on the sample to determine a level of the one or more labelling atoms, where the level of the one or more labelling atoms corresponds to the copy number of the one or more analytes to quantify the analytes.