Looking to enhance your achievable resolution for STED and SRM? Combining small polyclonal AffiniPure-VHH™ antibodies from Jackson ImmunoResearch and super bright STAR dyes from Abberior allows you to achieve the detail needed for high-impact results. Learn more about super-resolution imaging with JIR and Abberior…

Jackson ImmunoResearch and Abberior have combined expertise to offer the novel format AffiniPure-VHH™ Secondary Antibody conjugated to Abberior’s super bright STAR dyes. The VHH (nanobody) format, as seen in Figure 1, is a small heavy-chain-only antibody fragment that offers an exciting new opportunity to improve resolution by reducing the linkage error between the target antigen and the dye conjugate (Figure 2 A). 

Indirect immunostaining with polyclonal secondary reagents offers optimal signal generation due to the amplification created through the binding of multiple secondary reagents heterogeneously across the primary antibody, but linkage error can preclude their use in super-resolution microscopy (SRM) techniques (Figure 3 C). 

At 15 kDa, AffiniPure-VHH™ polyclonal antibodies offer excellent tissue penetration with superior conjugate delivery and decrease the linkage error considerably (Figure 3 B), bringing the conjugate much closer to the target antigen when compared to the conventional indirect immunostaining with whole IgGs. AffiniPure-VHH™ antibodies are cross-adsorbed for exquisite specificity against target species with minimal cross-reactivity to other commonly used species, making AffiniPure VHH™ format an excellent choice for high-resolution multiple labeling experiments. (Figures 4 and 5)

Although JIR AffiniPure VHH™ are available conjugated to a wide range of fluorescent dye conjugates, including AlexaFluor®, SRM techniques such as STED (Stimulated Emission Depletion Microscopy) and STORM (Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy) need dyes with specialized spectral characteristics and behaviors. Abberior is well known for the superior chemistry of its dyes and their commitment to providing exceptionally bright dyes for SRM imaging. 

The brightest dyes for SRM: Abberior STAR dyes

Abberior STAR dyes have been designed and manufactured by Abberior’s chemists for the best performance in STED and confocal microscopy. They offer high brightness and photostability, while the dye conjugates also show excellent solubility in aqueous buffers such as PBS, allowing for background-free labeling in cells or tissue. 

Abberior offers  AffiniPure-VHH™ antibodies conjugated to three Abberior STAR dyes. 

• abberior STAR RED
• abberior STAR 580
• abberior STAR 460L

Available with specificity to Rabbit or Mouse, they are cross-adsorbed for exquisite specificity against target species with minimal cross-reactivity to other commonly used species, making them suitable for application in multiple labeling experiments. 

Register to watch our Webinar to learn more about JIR AffinPure VHH™ antibodies and Abberior STAR dyes for super-resolution microscopy.

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