Biotium’s New MiniMab™ Single-Domain Antibody Series Provides Super-Resolution Imaging Options for Neuroscience Research

Biotium’s New SYT1, VGLUT1, and GFAP Recombinant Alpaca SdAb conjugates offer exceptional performance for STORM imaging with CF® Dyes

FREMONT, CA, July 09, 2025 / Biotech Newswire / -- Biotium, a leading innovator in life science reagents, is proud to support the advancement of super-resolution imaging with the release of their MiniMab™ single-domain antibody (SdAb) series. The MiniMab™ SdAb series, like Nanobodies®, are high-affinity recombinant alpaca VHHs against Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP), Synaptotagmin 1 (SYT1) and Vesicular Glutamate Transporter 1 (VGLUT1).

The MiniMab™ SdAbs are expertly engineered for optimal conjugate performance with a selection of best-in-class CF® Dyes for stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM). The antibodies are also available conjugated to Biotium’s photostable near-infrared CF®740 dye. Unlike conventional antibodies, MiniMab™ SdABs offer:

Deeper tissue penetration for better target accessibility
Higher solubility and stability for robust performance
Faster staining and superior signal clarity
Smaller conjugates for reduced localization error in super-resolution imaging
Conjugated to Biotium’s best-in-class CF® Dyes for STORM
Also available with Biotium’s new photostable CF®740 near-IR dye

These features make MiniMab™ reagents a powerful solution for researchers performing immunofluorescence microscopy on both conventional and super-resolution imaging platforms.


 
PFA-fixed rat brain cryosection stained with MiniMab™ GFAP SdAb (VHH) CF®568 conjugate (orange) and NucSpot® 680/700 Nuclear Stain (magenta). Scale bar: 20 um.
 
MiniMab™ SdAbs  are available conjugated to CF® Dyes for unmatched resolution and signal intensity in synaptic imaging.

GFAP (SdAb2409.GFAP): Targets glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)—a hallmark astrocyte marker in neural tissue. This SdAb enables robust visualization of GFAP isoforms, especially the alpha variant, and is optimized for clarity in astrocytic filament networks. Its high specificity makes it ideal for studying glial cell development, tumor biology, and various CNS disorders. This VHH reacts with human, mouse, and rat GFAP.

VGLUT1 (SdAb2412.VGLUT1): Targets the vesicular glutamate transporter 1, enabling precise visualization of glutamatergic synapses. This SdAb recognizes the cytoplasmic region of rat, mouse, and is expected to react with human VGLUT1 due to sequence homology.

SYT1 (SdAb2501.SYT1): Binds specifically to Synaptotagmin 1, a calcium-sensing protein essential for synaptic vesicle fusion and neurotransmitter release. The SdAb targets the cytoplasmic domain of SYT1 in rats and mice and is expected to cross-react with human SYT1 due to sequence homology.

Biotium also offers a wide selection of immunofluorescence reagents designed to complement the MiniMab™ series, including:
* Mix-n-Stain™ Nanobody Labeling Kit and Mix-n-Stain™ Nanobody Thiol Labeling Kit for optimal labeling of nanobodies without requiring purification.
* Mix-n-Stain™ STORM CF® Dye Antibody Labeling Kits for labeling antibody conjugates with a low degree of labeling optimal for STORM in just 30 minutes.
* CF® Dye Single Label Secondary Antibodies with an average degree of labeling (DOL) of one, specifically designed for super-resolution imaging by STORM.
* A growing portfolio of primary and secondary antibodies validated and optimized with CF® Dyes.
* A wide and expanding selection of validated probes and reagents for neuroscience research.

Biotium is continuing to grow the MiniMab™ SdAb product line to empower researchers with high-performance probes targeting critical cellular structures for neuroscience and other research areas. More MiniMab™ conjugates are currently in development, aimed at offering an expanded toolkit for next-generation imaging.
 
About Biotium
Biotium is a leading developer and manufacturer of fluorescent reagents and life science tools, serving researchers worldwide with innovative solutions for cell biology, molecular biology, and advanced imaging.

Nanobody® is a registered trademark of Ablynx, a Sanofi company.
 
Contact
Biotium
marketing@biotium.com
 
Keywords: Single-Domain Antibodies; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Biological Science Disciplines; Molecular Biology; Coloring Agents; Nucleic Acids; Biotium; MiniMab™; single-domain antibody (SdAb); Nanobodies®; alpaca VHH; GFAP (Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein); SYT1 (Synaptotagmin 1); VGLUT1 (Vesicular Glutamate Transporter 1); super-resolution imaging; STORM (Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy); CF® Dyes; CF®740 dye; immunofluorescence microscopy; high-affinity antibodies; deep tissue penetration; synaptic imaging; astrocyte marker; glial cell development; CNS disorders; glutamatergic synapses; calcium-sensing protein; neurotransmitter release; Mix-n-Stain™ Nanobody Labeling Kit; Mix-n-Stain™ Nanobody Thiol Labeling Kit; Mix-n-Stain™ STORM CF® Dye Antibody Labeling Kits; CF® Dye Single Label Secondary Antibodies; neuroscience research; cell biology; advanced imaging; fluorescent reagents; Fremont, CA