Progress of single-cell protein imaging methods

The differential expression and subcellular localization of single-cell proteins are closely related to the physiological state and pathological mechanisms of the body. The development of single-cell protein in situ imaging methods provides powerful tools for spatial single-cell proteomics research and single-cell protein profiling. This article summarizes the single-cell protein imaging methods developed in recent years, including the circulating immunofluorescence imaging methods based on ordered multi-round antibody incubation, mass spectrometry imaging based on metal element labeled antibodies, fluorescence imaging based on DNA-barcoded antibody, gene encoded fluorescence protein imaging and spectral imaging based on Raman spectroscopy or X-ray spectroscopy, with brief explanation of the imaging principles of these methods. It focuses on the multiple performance, imaging resolution and signal amplification performance of these methods, and analyzes their application characteristics in practical scientific research and clinical work, in the hope of providing some reference for the development of more revolutionary single-cell imaging methods, and promoting the development of biomedical and precision medicine.