PUBLISHER: Fairfield Market Research | PRODUCT CODE: 1397266
PUBLISHER: Fairfield Market Research | PRODUCT CODE: 1397266
Western blotting, also known as protein immunoblotting, stands as a crucial analytical technique for the separation and detection of specific proteins within complex protein samples. This technique leverages gel electrophoresis to separate proteins based on their molecular weight, forming distinct bands on a gel. These separated proteins are then transferred onto a nitrocellulose or polyvinylidene fluoride membrane. The process involves several key steps, including tissue preparation, gel electrophoresis, protein transfer to the membrane, blocking to prevent undesired interactions, membrane incubation, and antibody-based protein detection.
Western blotting offers various advantages over other immunoassay methods such as ELISA. It allows the separation of proteins by charge, size, and conformation, making it a more advanced technique. Unlike ELISA, which can detect only one protein, western blotting enables the detection of multiple targets. The gel electrophoresis component allows for the determination of the size of the target protein, and semi-quantification is possible by running an internal quantity standard alongside the samples.
However, western blotting does have drawbacks. It is time-consuming compared to ELISA and requires highly skilled laboratory technicians. Additionally, optimization of experimental conditions, such as gel concentration and protein isolation, is crucial, adding to its complexity.
The global western blotting market is witnessing growth driven by increasing HIV incidences worldwide. Moreover, its expanding applications in proteomics and significant investments in research and development by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are driving its adoption. Nevertheless, certain factors restrain the market's growth.
One notable challenge is the emergence of alpha technology, a highly sensitive homogeneous bead-based platform for biomolecule detection. Alpha technology offers advantages over western blotting, as it eliminates cumbersome wash steps and detects molecules of interest, particularly from protein complexes. It is compatible with various sample types, including serum, plasma, cell lysates, and supernatants, making it an all-in-one-well protocol, unlike the multi-step process of western blotting. Such emerging technologies pose a challenge to the traditional dominance of western blotting in the market.
Traditional western blotting methods demand time and technical expertise to detect specific proteins in complex mixtures, with inconsistent efficiency. Automation has brought significant improvements by enabling increased throughput screening, accelerating experimentation, and reducing manual tasks. Automated western blot systems facilitate the analysis of multiple samples simultaneously, with loading being the only manual step.