Antibody-based microarrays

Abstract

Antibody-based microarrays are a new powerful proteomic technology that can be used to generate rapid and detailed expression profiles of defined sets of protein analytes in complex samples as well as high-resolution portraits of entire proteomes. Miniaturized micro- and nanoarrays can be printed with numerous antibodies carrying the desired specificities. Multiplexed and ultra-sensitive assays, specifically targeting several analytes in a single experiment, can be performed, while consuming only minute amounts of the sample. The array images generated can then be converted into protein expression profiles, or maps, revealing the detailed composition of the sample. This promising proteomic research tool will thus provide unique opportunities for e.g. disease proteomics, biomarker discovery, disease diagnostics, and patient stratification. This review describes the antibody-based microarray technology and applications thereof.