Transform precision medicine with plasma proteomics and mass spectrometry

Explore the potential of mass spectrometry for personalized healthcare with plasma proteomics. Mass spectrometry has unlocked new possibilities for studying the plasma proteome, i.e. the set of proteins in blood plasma. By using this technology, researchers can identify and quantify proteins and post-translational modifications at high sensitivity. This provides valuable insights into the diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological disorders.

The basics of plasma proteomics
Plasma proteomics is the study of proteins in the liquid part of blood called plasma. These proteins can play important roles in immune response, blood clotting, and transportation of hormones and nutrients. The plasma protein content is diverse and complex, from proteins that have specific functions in blood to leakage proteins that don't have a specific function in circulation or low abundant signaling molecules such as small protein hormones and cytokines.

One application of plasma proteomics is discovering candidate biomarkers for diagnosing, prognosis or even theragnostic purposes. While blood analysis is a common diagnostic tool in medicine, many established biomarkers lack specificity and new ones need to be developed to meet the challenges of personalized medicine. 

By analyzing the plasma proteome, researchers can identify candidate biomarkers that can be used to diagnose diseases at an early stage, monitor disease progression, and predict treatment response. This approach is transforming the way we approach healthcare by enabling us to move from a one-size-fits-all approach to a more personalized approach, revolutionizing medical care by tailoring treatment to the individual needs of each patient. 

However, analyzing the plasma proteome is not without its challenges. Plasma is a complex mixture of proteins, and many of the proteins are present in very low concentrations. Additionally, some proteins may have a modified sequence or might be masked by more abundant proteins, making their detection difficult.

The power of mass spectrometry for analyzing the plasma proteome

Mass spectrometry-based proteomics has become a powerful technology for analyzing the plasma proteome and has improved dramatically over the years. MS-based proteomics has the potential for highly specific measurements and protein patterns, rather than single biomarkers, which could be the relevant readout. Unlike affinity-based approaches, it can detect untargeted sequence modifications, making it a method of choice for the detection of Protein Altering Variants (PAV's) or protein Quantitative Loci (pQTLs).

A significant advantage of plasma proteomics is its minimally invasive nature, making it an attractive avenue for translating research from the laboratory to the clinic. However, it is important to consider various factors, from sample collection to achieving translational data, to make the most of the potential of mass spectrometry-based plasma proteomics. 

The 4D-Proteomics™ ecosystem by Bruker offers a comprehensive solution to tackle the challenges associated with large-scale plasma-based proteomics research. Designed to optimize robustness, throughput, and depth of analysis, this cutting-edge platform encompasses every step, from sample preparation to data acquisition and analysis. By leveraging the 4D-Proteomics™ ecosystem, scientists can explore the full potential of mass spectrometry-based plasma proteomics, revolutionizing research in this field and accelerating its translation to clinical applications.

PQ500 from Biognosys allows accurate profiling of individual plasma samples providing absolute quantitative values for almost 600 proteins targeted in the panel. This means highly multiplexed measurements over the broad dynamic range of plasma proteins, with more than 800 carefully selected reference peptides covering six orders of magnitude.

PQ500 is the best choice for pre-clinical plasma research where accuracy, specificity and reproducibility between samples, or sample batches, is a must. It covers hundreds of relevant proteins, including a significant number of FDA approved protein biomarkers in several physiological processes.

PQ500 can be used in combination with any acquisition type, including prm-PASEF^® and dia-PASEF^® modes.

PepSep™ high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) columns enable better separation of proteins improving coverage, throughput, sensitivity, and reproducibility.

Increase instrument performance and efficiency with the PepSep™ MAX column. When combined with the timsTOF HT, immerse yourself in 4D-Proteomics™, so you can accurately analyze 1000s of samples with high throughput at PASEF^® speed.

Both CaptiveSpray and VIP-HESI with µflow sprayer ensure simple LC connection, robust operation and ultra-reproducible spraying conditions. On the MS side, the combination of Trapped Ion Mobility Separation (TIMS) and Parallel Accumulation Serial Fragmentation (PASEF^®), allows quantifying several hundreds of proteins in minutes using single-shot injections and label-free quantification. This is even in the presence of a wide range of protein concentrations. Large-scale studies are enabled without the need for a reference channel, simplifying planning and allowing for rapid analysis of large sample sizes. The 4D-Proteomics™ approach, powered by both TIMS and PASEF^® technologies deliver unique selectivity by combining high-resolution separation both in the ion mobility and the mass/charge dimension. All detected peptides are encoded with their retention time, accurate Collisional Cross Section (CCS), mass to charge (m/z) values and MS/MS fragmentation pattern for unrivaled confidence.

With the power of dia-PASEF^® discover the plasma proteome like never before with higher depth of coverage in less than half the turnover time per sample. Get ready to routinely quantify thousands of plasma proteomes in population-wide cohorts using dia-PASEF^®.

Streamline your workflow, make real-time decisions, and achieve impactful results with Bruker ProteoScape™. Unleash the full potential of CCS-enabled 4D-Proteomics™ acquisitions using TIMScore™ and TIMS DIA-NN. Identify more PSMs, peptides, and proteins with TIMScore™, and ensure reliable and accurate experiments with TIMS DIA-NN. 

Effortlessly build plasma spectral libraries with TIMScore™-powered DDA search results, seamlessly integrating with TIMS DIA-NN. Eliminate data analysis impediments encountered in plasma proteomics experiments. Experience real-time triggered analysis, breaking barriers and saving time. 

Enjoy the convenience of Run & Done and BPS Acquisition Control, providing immediate results and automated system suitability analysis. Combine with the Biognosys iRT kit for vigilant system monitoring with Bruker ProteoScape™ and Bruker TwinScape™. Say goodbye to analysis bottlenecks and wasted samples, let Bruker ProteoScape™ dominate your proteomics data analysis.

Spectronaut^® 18 is the solution to your plasma proteomics research challenges. Increased sensitivity with deep-learning augmented peptide identification in Spectronaut^® allows for the identification of more precursors and proteins, which translate into high levels of data completeness and reproducibility between samples and even projects.

For large-scale plasma projects, with big sample cohorts, Spectronaut^® 18 brings new standards in high throughput, with dedicated packages for Linux- and cloud environments: analyze more samples in less time.

No time for waiting? With Spectronaut^® 18 you can get all the benefits from our library-free, directDIA+ workflow while saving time by kick-starting your analysis from the very first acquired sample. Analyze your project while you acquire the data! Have more than 80% of the full experiment analysis finished by the time acquisition is done.

Maximize your plasma proteomics analysis with Biognosys, the recommended outsourcing partner by Bruker. With the Biognosys TrueDiscovery™ platform powered by Spectronaut^®, get unparalleled specificity and depth in quantifying plasma proteomes. Identify differentially regulated proteins as unbiased biomarker candidates with our hypothesis-free approach. 

The TrueDiscovery™ platform covers 4,200 proteins in plasma or serum, including low-abundant proteins, thanks to our optimized depletion and sample enrichment workflow. Scale up to thousands of samples with industry-leading throughput. 

Gain valuable insights from TrueDiscovery™ studies to guide follow-on studies using TrueSignature™ custom panels. Enhance your analysis further by combining our plasma profiling workflow with the PQ500™ reference panel for absolute quantification.