Biomarkers are increasingly becoming critical in biomedical and clinical research. Biomarkers can help determine drug safety and toxicity profiles, identify mechanisms of drug action, and work as a diagnostic tool. Besides, personalized medicine requires biomarkers that can identify and determine the best possible medication for an individual. Protein biomarkers have been traditionally assessed using ELISA. However, electrochemiluminescence-based Meso Scale Discovery assays offer multiple advantages. Most importantly, Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) has multiplexing capacities that allow the screening of biomarkers more efficiently.
Similar to qPCR expression analysis and LC-MS-based assays, the MSD ELISA protocol requires robust development and validation initiatives. Traditional ELISA assays can be unmanageable for analyzing multiple analytes in single assay volumes. MSD cell-based assays can quantify cytokines and other proteins in single sample volumes. MSD cytokine multiplex assays have higher sensitivity and a broader dynamic range compared to traditional ELISA assays. These assays are highly flexible and can provide singleplex or multiplex formats, saving precious biological samples and reagents. The current article dives into understanding the power of MSD assay for biomarker detection.
Meso Scale Discovery assays for biomarker detection
MSD immunoassays combine multiarray technology and electrochemiluminescence detection to quantify multiple analytes in a single sample. Most MSD assays employ the sandwich method and use multi-spot microplates with unique capture antibodies in individual spots. After incubating the sample, the binding of target analytes is identified using sulfo-tag conjugated antibodies. Researchers then apply electricity to the microplate, and the emitted sulfo-tag lights are correlated for the intensity and measurements of the quantified analytes.
MSD has numerous services and solutions to select, screen, and validate biomarker tests. With over 20 years of expertise in commercial immunoassays, MSD technology can accelerate drug development programs by providing fully validated assays. Researchers can screen a broad spectrum of biomarkers and then translate these relevant biomarkers onto focused panels. These biomarker panels can measure analytes associated with several diseases and disorders, such as oncology, inflammation, immunology, metabolism, neurodegeneration, and cardiovascular diseases. Besides, these assays are available for diverse species and are compatible with multiple sample types, including serum, plasma, urine, blood spots, cell lysates, supernatants, tissue exact, etc.
Must Read: Comparison of MSD cytokine analysis with other methods, such as ELISA and qPCR
MSD has different types of immunoassays, including V-plex, U-plex, R-plex, and S-plex.
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V-plex assays are ideal for consistent, reliable, and reproducible results. These assay formats follow the fit-for-purpose principles and are validated in different matrices.
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U-plex is flexible and custom-designed. Scientists can design their own multiplex or singleplex MSD assays. This format uses biotinylated capture antibodies coupled with U-plex linkers that bind to specific spots on the microplates.
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R-plex formats are also custom assay development tools for single or multiple analytes. Each R-plex set contains an electrochemiluminescence labeled detection antibody, a biotinylated capture antibody, and a recombinant protein standard.
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The S-plex format is suitable for detecting low concentrations of analytes in the sample. This format can detect analytes at the femtogram levels.