Combination of hydrogel nanoparticles and proteomics to reveal secreted proteins associated with decidualization of human uterine stromal cells

Background: identification of secreted proteins of low abundance is often limited by abundant and high molecular weight (mw) proteins. we have optimised a procedure to overcome this limitation.results: low mw proteins in the conditioned media of cultured cells were first captured using dual-size exclusion/affinity hydrogel nanoparticles and their identities were then revealed by proteomics.conclusions: this technique enables the analysis of secreted proteins of cultured cells low mw and low abundance. © 2011 paule et al; licensee biomed central ltd.