Cyanine dyes are members of the polymethine synthetic dye family historically used to increase photographic emulsion sensitivity. Cyanine dyes have versatile applications and are commonly used as fluorescent labels for proteins, nucleic acids, and small molecules. They are particularly suited for biomedical imaging, protein-protein interactions, proteomics, and transcriptomics. Different variants have distinctive spectral properties – for example, Cyanine dye 7 (Cy7) has a strong absorption peak at 747nm while Cyanine dye 5.5 (Cy5.5) has a strong absorption peak at 675nm. Lightning-Link Cy Antibody Labeling kits are highly-controlled, sophisticated yet fast conjugation systems that simplify immunoassay techniques (Western blotting, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry). The cyanine antibody was employed to compare the performance and reliability of fluorescent-linked immunosorbant assays (FLISA) in a microtiter plates against traditional enzyme-linked immunosorbant assays (ELISA) methods1. Other studies developed a highly sensitive and specific ELISA assay incorporating the cyanine antibody – this assay allowed for the detection of aldosterone in mouse urine2. The assay allows the non-invasive monitoring of adrenocortical activity relevant to renal function and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Research out of Bao’s lab used the cyanine antibody to follow movement and migration of targeted cancer stem cells during glioma tumor growth and formation3. The cyanine antibody allowed them to identify L1 cell adhesion marker (L1CAM) as a cancer stem cell-specific therapeutic target in treatment of brain gliomas and other brain tumors. Additionally, Marr et al used the cyanine antibody in their studies on the anti-viral effects of bovine lactoferrin (Lf) and lactoferricin (LFcin) Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) intracellular trafficking4. PMIDs
