Mass cytometry

The approach overcomes limitations of spectral overlap in flow cytometry by utilizing discrete isotopes as a reporter system instead of traditional fluorophores which have broad emission spectra.

[9][11] The IMC approach, in the same way as CyTOF, relies on detection of metal-tagged antibodies using time-of-flight mass spectrometry, allowing for quantification of up to 40 markers simultaneously.

[15] Advantages include minimal overlap in metal signals meaning the instrument is theoretically capable of detecting 100 parameters per cell, entire cell signaling networks can be inferred organically without reliance on prior knowledge, and one well-constructed experiment produces large amounts of data.

Mass cytometry has research applications in medical fields including immunology, hematology, and oncology.

MC has been used in various research fields, such as cancer biology, immunology, and neuroscience, to provide a more comprehensive understanding of tissue architecture and cellular interactions.