Surface plasmon resonance-enabled mass spectrometry arrays

Biosensors that utilize surface plasmon resonance (SPR) as a method of detection of protein interactions can be used for selective separation of proteins prior to MS analysis. The combination of SPR and MS results in a unique multiplexed detection technology capable of both quantitative and qualitative protein analysis. To further the development of a high-throughput SPR-MS approach, the possibility of arraying binding ligands on SPR chips for affinity capture of proteins and their MS analysis was explored. Antibodies to β-2-microglobulin, cystatin C, transferrin, and insulin-like growth factors I and II were arrayed on a large number of SPR chips. Human plasma samples were injected over the antibody array chips in an SPR Biosensor, after which on-chip MS analysis was performed to detect the bound proteins. Signals from the targeted proteins were observed for each antibody-derivatized chip, indicating successful antibody immobilization and protein capture. The SPR-MS arrays are robust, highly reproducible, and are capable of high-throughput analysis.