We developed polystyrene beads modified with the porphyrin TCPP as compensation controls and multicolor flow cytometry. The beads used in this protocol have fluorescence intensity comparable to TCPP stain cells and still passed through the flow cytometer. We accomplished that and are currently working on better methods to remove the particulate byproduct.
Porphyrin-modified compensation beads were preferable to TCPP stained cells as compensation controls. These speeds were stable over months without significant loss of fluorescence. Porphyrins are known to stain cancer cells selectively.
The research combines the selectivity of porphyrins with quantitative flow cytometry as a powerful platform for high-throughput analysis of human samples.
