Understanding
Single-cell Proteomics
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is single-cell proteomics?
Why is single-cell proteomics important?
Proteins are the functional drivers of biology and their abundance, modifications, and interactions define cell behavior. Measuring them at the single-cell level enables scientists to link genotype to phenotype with unprecedented precision. This allows for the discovery of rare cell types, better evaluate inter-cell communication and interactions, increase understanding of disease mechanisms, and identification of new therapeutic targets. As such, single-cell proteomics bridges the gap between genomics and functional biology.
What's included in BICO's automation offering?
BICO’s single-cell proteomics automation centers on Cellenion’s cellenONE® platforms, which provide high-precision single-cell isolation and dispensing. These systems enable gentle, accurate deposition of individual cells into plates or specialized devices, ensuring cell integrity and traceability. The cellenONE combines nanoliter scale liquid handline, environmental controls and integrated workflows, within the same instrument, so that researchers can automate complex sample preparation steps, reduce variability, and increase throughput – accelerating proteomic analyses from single cells with robust, high-quality results.
How many proteins can be detected per cell?
Cellenion’s proteoCHIP™ EVO 96-based sample preparation provides sufficient proteome depth to study complex biology beyond cell-type classifications; up to 4,000 protein groups per cell.
Are BICO single-cell proteomics workflows compatible with rare or low-volume samples?
Can I use both label-free and multiplexed approaches?
Absolutely, the proteoCHIP™ product range supports both strategies and, as an open platform, the cellenONE X1 NEO offers flexibility for different study designs.
How we support single-cell proteomics
Our solutions automate single-cell isolation and ultra-low-volume dispensing to streamline proteomics sample preparation. By minimizing reagent use and maximizing throughput, they enable efficient, reproducible, and highly precise workflows. Seamlessly compatible with mass spectrometry workflows, our technology gives researchers the ability to generate high-quality proteomic data, even from rare or sensitive cell types.
Automated single-cell isolation with image-based QC
Our instruments from Cellenion provide image-based quality control, allowing researchers to clearly identify where a single cell has been deposited, giving them the confidence to progress efficiently with their proteomics workflows.
Cost-effective workflows with reagent minimization
Our solutions enables single-cell proteomics workflows to be minimized to the nanoliter scale, helping researchers achieve greater resource efficiency while performing cutting-edge experiments on rare and low-volume samples. This is made possible by the cellenONE, which uses pico-dispensing to reduce reagent use while increasing sample type flexibility.
High-throughput analysis for robust datasets
BICO platforms enable hundreds to thousands of single cells to be analyzed per run using proteoCHIP™ consumables or customer-developed assays. Leading to larger datasets that support stronger conclusions, improve robustness, and increase the likelihood of novel discoveries.
Sub-Applications
Single-cell proteomics expands biological understanding by revealing cellular diversity, functions, and interactions that bulk analyses overlook, driving discoveries across cancer, immunology, stem cell research, and drug development.
Tumor Microenvironment Profiling
Tumors are often highly heterogeneous, consisting of diverse tumor cell populations, immune cells, and stromal cells that interact to drive disease progression but can also reveal novel targets for therapeutic intervention. BICO’s single-cell proteomics platforms enable researchers to profile the tumor microenvironment, identify low-abundance cell types, and gain functional insights to uncover disease mechanisms and guide targeted therapy development.
Spatial Proteomics in Tissue Sections
Cell activity is best understood when viewed in the context of its physiological location and interactions with neighboring cells. Without single-cell analysis, researchers risk missing crucial information and cell-cell interactions. BICO enables precise single-cell proteomic analysis to identify resident cells in a tissue section, characterize their interactions, and reveal their impact on tissue function, disease progression, and therapeutic response.
Immune Cell Heterogeneity Studies
Immune cells play diverse roles in physiological and pathological processes. Profiling the proteome of immune cells in different tissue contexts reveals their functions and interactions, providing insights into key conditions such as inflammatory diseases and cancer. BICO technologies enable researchers to identify populations such as T cells, B cells, and macrophages and assess their activation states. This can provide insights into immune responses to infection and treatment, and help track the interplay between immune cells and other cell types.
Drug Mechanism and Toxicity Analysis
Single cells within large heterogeneous populations can respond differently to therapies, complicating drug toxicity and mechanistic studies. BICO technologies enable robust single-cell proteomics, providing a powerful complement to toxicity studies by revealing drug effects on specific cell populations and helping to identify mechanisms of action, resistance, and toxicity with greater precision.
Stem Cell Differentiation Tracking
Bulk analyses can mask markers of low-abundance lineages, whereas single-cell approaches make these markers visible and quantifiable. BICO solutions make these markers visible with high-throughput single-cell proteomics, allowing researchers to monitor differentiation trajectories across thousands of progenitor cells. This enables precise, high-specificity tracking to refine differentiation strategies and improve the reliability of stem cell-based research and clinical applications.
Products for Single-cell Proteomics
BICO supports robust single-cell proteomics workflows with advanced infrastructure for single-cell isolation and dispensing, sample preparation, and seamless transfer to single-cell mass spectrometry platforms.
Contact Us
Get in touch with a BICO expert today to discuss your research goals, explore our innovative solutions, and find the approach that perfectly aligns with your lab’s needs. Whether you’re looking for a quote, a product demo, or technical guidance, our team is here to support you every step of the way.
