Multiplexed Ion Beam Imaging: High-resolution, High-sensitivity, Quantitative Tissue Imaging

Stanford researchers developed and patented a multiplexed immunohistochemistry method called multiplexed ion beam imaging (MIBI), which uses antibodies tagged with non-biological elemental isotopes (e.g. rare earth elements) and secondary ion mass spectroscopy. (See figure 1). While conventional IHC qualitatively detects only 1-3 antigens in tissue samples, this new technique measures 50-100 targets in a tissue specimen simultaneously with virtually no signal interference between channels. The dynamic range of the technique is on the order of 105, exceeding that of conventional immunofluorescence and clinical IHC methods by nearly 1000 fold. Specimens are prepared using conventional IHC methods, compatible with formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue blocks (FFPE), and are stable indefinitely. MIBI can be expanded to other detection reagents (e.g. aptamers, nucleic acid probes) to perform analogous assays (e.g. in situ hybridization). This technique provides multiplexed, quantitative, single-cell analysis in solid tissue specimens that was previously possible only in cell suspensions compatible with flow cytometry, and significantly advances clinical diagnostics and research applications.

Stage of Development
The Angelo Lab applies their Multiplexed Ion Beam Imaging method to cancer biology, infectious diseases, immune tolerance, allergy, and the maternal-fetal interface research.

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Figure Description: Multiplexed ion beam imaging multiplexed immunohistochemistry workflow (Image courtesy: The Angelo Lab).