Author Spotlight: Advancing Tear Fluid Analysis Using a Standardized Protocol for Proteomics Research

Our research aims to demonstrate the use of a protein suspension trapping sample preparation, known as S trap for mass spectrometry-based research. This protocol employs a rapid, reproducible, and standardized sample preparation of human tear fluid sample collected using the for translational research in ophthalmology. Human tear fluid is a body fluid that can be collected for non-invasive molecular tests in ophthalmology.

There is a lot of standardized methods of tear fluid collection and sample preparation, which are critical to successful clinical research of diseases and conditions. Non-standardized methods are difficult to compare and interpret between methodologies and therefore affect chemical outcomes. This protocols allows tear body fluid sampling and storage at room temperature.

This helps with easier sample collections and shipping. It provides a rapid and robust peptide extractions for mass spectrometer analysis, which improves peptide recovery and identifications. This protocol has minimal sample preparation steps to minimize error and uncertainties.

The fast and superior performance of protein identification and quantification by mass spectrometry will facilitate clinicians and researchers in the development of non-invasive molecular tests. Optimize the sample preparation will always be one of the critical steps. Regardless of the detection method, the clinical value of human tear fluid is yet to be fully investigated.

The proposal sample preparation method would hopefully open the door for potential clinical application in the near future.