At Caltag, we recognise that every research project is unique. Our custom services provide flexible, high-quality solutions that meet your specific scientific needs when standard catalogue items fall short.
Custom Services
Whether you require custom antibody production, assay development, tissue procurement, or cloning services, we collaborate with trusted partners to deliver dependable solutions, no matter how niche.
Antibody and Protein Customisation
The limitations of catalogue antibodies are well known to researchers working with novel targets, rare epitopes, or applications demanding exceptional specificity and sensitivity. Custom antibody and protein services exist to overcome these constraints.
Monoclonal & Polyclonal Production
If you're struggling to find catalogue antibodies that target your specific protein, peptide or novel epitope, or you require a higher level of specificity or sensitivity; custom antibody services are available to meet these needs.
In partnership with our global network of suppliers, we offer options across all antibody production processes, from immunogen design and synthesis to antibody production and purification. From small-scale hybridoma development to large-scale antibody manufacturing for IVD raw materials, we source tailored solutions for your project needs.
Variety of species:
Monoclonal – mouse, hamster, rabbit, and rat
Polyclonal – rabbit, mouse, rat, goat, chicken, llama, guinea pig and donkey
Choice of Development Platform:
Hybridoma
Recombinant
Phage Display
B-Cell Sequencing
Expression System Options:
Mammalian Systems - CHO, HEK293
Microbial Systems - E.coli, yeast
Whether you need antibodies for basic research, diagnostic development, or therapeutic applications, our suppliers are available to help.
Single Domain Antibody Production
In applications where conventional antibodies fail, Camelid single domain antibodies (sdAb), also known as VHH or nanobodies, are ideal alternatives due to their superior stability and small size, making them a promising tool for disease diagnosis and treatment. Additionally, their high solubility and excellent tissue penetration enable them to target difficult epitopes hidden in protein structures. sdAb also express well in many host systems, particularly microbial, enabling cost-effective manufacturing on a large scale.
Multiple of our suppliers offer sdAb custom production to suit the needs of your project.
Protein Production
Do you require a protein that is not commercially available, is hard to express or has unique modifications?
If so, custom protein production may be the solution for you.
In collaboration with our suppliers, at Caltag, we'll guide you through every step of the process, from gene synthesis, codon optimisation, expression host selection, protein expression & purification, and quality control analysis of the final product.
Expression Systems Available
Mammalian Expression
HEK293 and CHO expression
Produces high-quality proteins, closest to the native structure
Ideal when requiring specific protein folding, glycosylation and post-translational modification functions
E.coli Expression
Fast, cost-effective
Ideal for producing simple proteins on a large scale
Insect Expression
High yield
Express with unique post-translational modifications different from mammalian expression
Yeast Expression
High product yield and scalability
Easy genetic manipulation, not achievable in bacterial cells
In vitro Wheat Germ Expression
Cell-free system
High solubility and yield
Native protein conformation
Synthesise complex, toxic, or membrane-bound proteins, difficult to express in E. coli
Peptide Synthesis
Utilising a custom peptide synthesis service provides high-quality and consistent peptides, specifically tailored to accelerate your studies in drug discovery, immunology, and molecular biology.
Let us know your desired sequence, length, purity, and quantity, and we'll liaise with our worldwide network of suppliers to produce a peptide to your specifications.
- Length: 2+ amino acids
- Purity: Crude to 98%
- Quantity: mg to g
- Modification: Phosphorylation, Acetylation, Lysine, Methylation, single & multiple disulfide bonds
- Labelling & Conjugation: KLH/BSA/OVA coupling, Thyroglobulin conjugation, SEC or ORN coupling, Biotin or Fluorescent labelling
- HPLC and MS analysis reports
MHC Services
Custom MHC molecules are essential tools in immune monitoring, T cell response studies, and antigen discovery for immunotherapy research and vaccine development. In partnership with our suppliers, we offer custom MHC tetramers or monomers, with biotinylation and fluorescent modifications available to suit your requirements.
Choose from over 40 MHC Class I and II alleles and decide which peptide sequence loading method works best for you:
- We synthesise the peptide(s) for you
- You provide the peptide (sequence does not need to be disclosed, if confidentiality is important to you)
- Load the peptide in your own lab
More Services
Additional antibody and protein services available include antibody barcoding and conjugation/labelling, custom antibody modifications, soluble TCR expression and custom solute carrier protein expression.
Gene and Molecular Biology Services
Precision at the sequence level is foundational to reliable downstream biology. Whether you are constructing an expression system or developing a delivery vehicle for RNA-based therapeutics, the quality of your molecular biology materials shapes every result.
Gene Synthesis & DNA Engineering
Designing and synthesising custom gene constructs requires more than sequence accuracy. Codon composition, secondary structure, GC content, and regulatory element placement all influence genetic expression in ways that can be difficult to predict and costly to troubleshoot retrospectively.
Our gene synthesis services cover the complete workflow from sequence design and codon optimisation, tailored to your chosen expression host, through to synthesis and sequence verification. Whether you are creating a novel ORF or introducing point mutations to assess protein function, constructs are delivered to specification with full quality documentation.
- Custom gene synthesis across a wide range of lengths and complexities
- Codon optimisation for mammalian, insect, yeast, and microbial expression systems
- Site-directed mutagenesis and targeted sequence modification
- Custom construct design for expression, knockdown, or reporter applications
Cloning, Vector Development & Advanced Genetic Technologies
Whether the requirement is a straightforward mammalian expression vector or a complex CRISPR design, the precision of vector construction directly determines downstream performance.
Our network of trusted suppliers can provide custom cloning and vector development, alongside CRISPR vector design, viral packaging, and nanoparticle-based delivery system development, all of which are validated for your specific application and compatible with your chosen host system.
- Custom cloning, subcloning, and gene assembly services
- CRISPR vector design and gene editing tools for a range of cell and organism targets
- Viral packaging services (AAV, lentiviral, adenoviral) for efficient in vitro and in vivo delivery
- Lipid nanoparticle (LNP) and nanoparticle-based delivery system development for RNA cargo
RNA
RNA-based research is expanding rapidly — from fundamental studies of post-transcriptional regulation to the development of mRNA vaccines, circular RNA therapeutics, and CRISPR-based genome editors. Access to well-manufactured RNA constructs is central to life science research.
Our services span mRNA, self-amplifying RNA (saRNA), and circular RNA (circRNA) synthesis with capping, modification, and purification options.
Discovery & Analytical Services
Generating data is only part of the challenge. Extracting meaningful insights is the other.
Our analytical and computational services are designed to support drug discovery and target validation workflows, from primary sequence analysis through to in silico screening and experimental biomolecular interaction studies.
- DNA sequencing services for construct verification and variant identification
- Molecular docking and virtual screening to support hit identification
- Biomolecular interaction analysis for binding kinetics and affinity determination
Cell and Tissue Services
The biological relevance of a cell or tissue model is a fundamental determinant of experimental validity. As research questions become more physiologically complex, access to well-characterised, ethically sourced, and functionally validated cell and tissue material becomes ever more critical.
Tissue Procurement & Biospecimens
High-quality biospecimens, with defined donor criteria, comprehensive biodata, and rigorous processing and documentation, are a prerequisite for generating reproducible, publication-ready data.
We source ethically procured human tissues and biospecimens through trusted suppliers, supporting both standard research collections and highly specific donor-defined requirements.
- Human tissue sourcing
- Custom donor criteria: age, sex, disease state, treatment history, BMI, and more
- FFPE and fresh tissue formats with processing and storage documentation
Primary Cells & Cell Isolation
Immortalised cell lines offer convenience and reproducibility, but they carry well-characterised biological limitations. Where physiological relevance matters, primary cells remain the gold standard.
Custom isolation services provide high-viability primary cells from a wide range of human and animal tissues, including rare and specialised cell populations. Cells are isolated and characterised, supporting demanding applications including co-culture systems and single-cell studies.
- Isolation of specific and rare cell populations
- Custom sourcing from a broad range of human and animal tissue types
- High-viability primary cell preparation with characterisation data
- Support for specialised research applications, including immune cell subsets, stromal cells, and primary neurons
Cell Line Development & Engineering
Generating a robust, well-characterised engineered cell line is an investment that pays dividends across the lifetime of a research programme. Stable expression, knockout, or knock-in models provide the consistency required for mechanistic studies, assay development, and drug screening.
At Caltag, our suppliers can aid the development of stable mammalian cell lines, CRISPR-modified and knockout models, and immortalised primary cells, each characterised and validated to defined criteria before delivery.
- Stable mammalian cell line development with selection and single-cell cloning
- CRISPR-Cas9 knockout, knock-in, and base editing models
- Conditional and inducible expression systems
- Cell immortalisation services for primary cell lines
- Genotypic and phenotypic characterisation and functional validation
Stem Cells & Disease Models
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and patient-derived disease models have provided a transformative capability for research.
Our supplier's services cover iPSC generation and expansion, directed differentiation into a range of specialised cell types, genome editing within stem cell backgrounds, and the development of functional disease models for mechanistic studies and therapeutic evaluation.
- iPSC reprogramming from somatic cell sources with full characterisation
- Directed differentiation: cardiomyocytes, neurons, hepatocytes, endothelial cells, and more
- Patient-derived disease models for mechanistic and drug response studies
Assay Development and Functional Testing
An assay is only as useful as its performance characteristics, and achieving the required sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility isn't an easy task. From early-stage biomarker measurement through to validated platforms supporting regulatory submissions, assay quality is central to scientific credibility.
Custom Assay Development
Whether the goal is measuring a low-abundance cytokine in a patient sample or developing a diagnostic-grade detection system for a specific antigen, a well-designed assay must be matched to both the target and sample type.
Our partners cover various assay formats, alongside bespoke detection system development tailored to your target, sensitivity requirements, and downstream application, including conjugation and labelling of detection components.
- ELISA, CLIA, and FLIA development for a wide range of targets and sample types
- Custom assay design with defined sensitivity, specificity, and dynamic range criteria
- Conjugation and detection system integration; enzyme, fluorescent, and chemiluminescent labels
- End-to-end assay development support
Cell-Based & Functional Assays
Biochemical binding data tells you that a molecule interacts with a target. Cell-based functional assays tell you whether the interaction produces the biological effect your research anticipates.
With access to validated cell-based assay platforms spanning immunology, oncology, and general pharmacology, we can support both mechanistic studies and candidate screening applications.
- Immune cell activation assays: T cell, NK cell, macrophage, and dendritic cell responses
- Cell proliferation, viability, and apoptosis assays
- Cytotoxicity testing
- Functional response analysis, including cytokine secretion
Assay Optimisation & Validation
Even a well-conceived assay design requires optimisation to perform consistently across different operators, instruments, and sample matrices.
Our optimisation and validation services focus on the performance parameters that matter for your application, whether that is research-grade sensitivity testing or formal analytical validation.
Biomaterials and Nanotechnology
As the frontier of life science research shifts towards RNA therapeutics, regenerative medicine, and translational application of nanoscale biology, the materials underpinning these advances become as scientifically important as the biological cargo they carry.
Custom Biomaterials
Agarose-based resins and functional biomaterials are widely used in affinity purification, diagnostics development, and analytical workflows. Custom biomaterial development services allow these parameters to be specified and validated for your application.
Nanoparticle & Drug Delivery Systems
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are now the delivery system of choice for mRNA-based therapeutics and vaccines, and their importance in siRNA, saRNA, and other nucleic acid transport continues to grow.
Custom LNP formulation services are available for research-scale and process development applications, supporting a range of nucleic acids with optimisation for in vitro and in vivo delivery contexts.
Nanofiber & Scaffold Technologies
Cells do not exist in suspension; they are embedded within complex three-dimensional extracellular environments that provide structural support, biochemical signals, and mechanical cues that profoundly influence their behaviour. Two-dimensional culture systems cannot replicate these conditions, which is why hydrogels, scaffolds, and nanofiber technologies have become central to tissue engineering, organoid development, and ex vivo model construction.
Custom nanofiber and scaffold materials are available with defined fibre diameter, porosity, and surface chemistry, enabling the creation of biomimetic microenvironments tailored to specific cell types and research applications.
- Custom electrospun nanofiber production with controlled morphology and composition
- Scaffold design for 3D cell culture, tissue engineering, and organoid support
Histopathology and Analytical Services
Understanding biology at the tissue and cellular level requires spatial context, not just biochemical measurement. Knowing not just that a protein is present in a sample, but where it is expressed, in which cell types, and at what relative abundance, transforms a measurement into an insight.
Immunohistochemistry (IHC)
Immunohistochemistry remains one of the most informative single techniques available for understanding protein expression patterns in the context of tissue architecture. However, the quality of IHC data is highly sensitive. Antibody concentration, blocking conditions, and detection system must be optimised for each target and tissue type.
Our IHC services include protocol development and optimisation for new targets, staining across FFPE and fresh-frozen tissue formats.
Flow Cytometry
Multiparameter flow cytometry is a powerful tool for dissecting the composition and function of complex cell populations, but its power is directly proportional to the quality of the panel design. Spectral overlap, fluorochrome compatibility, and antibody titration are all sources of error that can compromise data quality.
Our flow cytometry services include:
- Multi-parameter panel design with spectral overlap and fluorochrome compatibility assessment
- Antibody titration and optimisation for each panel component
- Expert data processing, gating strategy development, and result interpretation
Tissue Analysis & Biomarker Detection
Meaningful biological insight depends not just on generating data, but also on how it is measured, analysed, and communicated. Our tissue analysis and biomarker detection services cover cellular phenotyping and high-sensitivity quantification of low-abundance targets across research and diagnostic applications.
Bespoke Requests
Sourcing niche life science reagents is one of Caltag's core strengths. If your requirement is not covered in the services listed above, please get in touch. We work with an extensive global network of specialist suppliers and have experience navigating requests that fall outside conventional catalogue boundaries.