Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 6, 2026

Dual-modality Molecular Cartography: Integrating Multiplex mRNA Detection with Protein Imaging Mass Cytometry
Published on: November 14, 2025
Characterization of metal-tagged antibodies used in ICP-MS-based immunoassays
L Mueller1, T Mairinger, G Hermann
1BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Richard-Willstaetter-Straße 11, 12489, Berlin, Germany, larissa.mueller@bam.de.
A detailed characterization of metal-tagged antibodies is the prerequisite for the implementation of quantitative concepts in inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)-based bioanalysis or future medical diagnosis. In this paper, the common modification with bifunctional ligands containing maleimide residues as a reactive group was investigated in detail via size exclusion chromatography (SEC)-ICP-MS and liquid chromatography-time-of-flight (LC-TOF)-MS to determine the preservation of the antibody structure after tagging. Mouse monoclonal IgG modified with metal-coded tags (MeCATs) was used as a model system. Several antibody fragments were identified carrying different numbers of metal tags. In a second step, a functionality test was performed with isolated fragments where the antigen specificity was tested in a dot blot immunoassay.
A detailed characterization of metal-tagged antibodies is the prerequisite for the implementation of quantitative concepts in inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)-based bioanalysis or future medical diagnosis. In this paper, the common modification with bifunctional ligands containing maleimide residues as a reactive group was investigated in detail via size exclusion chromatography (SEC)-ICP-MS and liquid chromatography-time-of-flight (LC-TOF)-MS to determine the preservation of the antibody structure after tagging. Mouse monoclonal IgG modified with metal-coded tags (MeCATs) was used as a model system. Several antibody fragments were identified carrying different numbers of metal tags. In a second step, a functionality test was performed with isolated fragments where the antigen specificity was tested in a dot blot immunoassay.
Related Concept Videos
Immunogold Electron Microscopy
Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry (ICP–MS): Overview
Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS): Interferences
Immunoprecipitation
Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
Chromatin immunoprecipitation, also known as ChIP, is used to study protein-DNA or...
Immunocytochemistry and Immunohistochemistry
These...

