Fragment antibodies, which are fragments of the binding end of a monoclonal antibody (mAb), are small but powerful tools for fighting disease. Alfa Cytology provides state-of-the-art preclinical research services for the development of therapeutic antibody fragments against pancreatic cancer (PC).
Introduction to Therapeutic Antibody Fragment
Therapeutic antibody fragments, derived from monoclonal antibodies, range from 3kDa to 50kDa and include types like scFv, Fab, and single-domain antibodies(sdAbs). Their small size allows better tissue penetration and tumor access, reducing immune system impact. These fragments can rapidly block signaling molecules and receptors, and are easier to produce in high yields. Additionally, they offer high affinity and specificity for detecting cellular proteins, making them ideal for diagnostics and imaging. Their shorter half-life ensures faster body clearance, minimizing side effects. These characteristics make antibody fragments potent tools for targeted cancer treatment and imaging.
Fig. 1 Schematic representation of the route of the antibody/antibody fragment after administration. (Xenaki K T, et al, 2017)
Therapeutic Antibody Fragment for Pancreatic Cancer
| Antibody Fragment | Type | Target | Phase |
|---|---|---|---|
| NK Cell-Derived scFv Fragments | Single-chain variable fragment (scFv) | Various tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) | Preclinical |
| XmAb14045 | Single-chain variable fragment (scFv) with bispecific capability | CD3 and CD123 | Phase I |
| ALX-008 | Fab fragment | EpCAM | Preclinical |
Our Services
Alfa Cytology offers a comprehensive one-stop therapeutic antibody development service designed to meet all the needs of therapeutic antibody fragment development for pancreatic cancer. Our service encompasses the entire development process, including antigen identification, antibody engineering, in vitro and in vivo testing, and final validation. We aim to provide highly specific and efficient antibody fragments to pancreatic cancer researchers.
Multiple Antibody Fragment Formats
Alfa Cytology can develop the following types of therapeutic antibody fragments against pancreatic cancer, customized to the needs of our clients.
Single-chain Variable Fragments (scFv)
Characteristics: Composed of the variable regions of the heavy (VH) and light (VL) chains, connected by a short peptide linker.
Applications: Used for targeted drug delivery and as diagnostic tools due to their small size and high specificity.
Antigen-binding fragments (Fab)
Characteristics: Consist of the entire light chain and the VH and CH1 domains of the heavy chain. It retains the antigen-binding site.
Applications: Employed in therapeutic applications where full antibody size is not necessary, offering reduced immunogenicity.
Diabodies
Characteristics: Bivalent, bispecific antibody fragments formed by non-covalent association of two single-chain fragments.
Applications: Utilized for dual targeting of cancer cells, enhancing therapeutic effectiveness.
Our Key Technologies
The development of therapeutic antibody fragments for pancreatic cancer involves several advanced technologies that ensure the production of highly specific and effective treatments.
- Phage Display Technology: Enables the selection of high-affinity antibody fragments from large libraries by displaying them on the surface of bacteriophages.
- Recombinant DNA Technology: Used to engineer and produce antibody fragments with desired characteristics in suitable expression systems.
- Hybridoma Technology: Facilitates the production of monoclonal antibodies, which can be fragmented to obtain specific antibody fragments.
- Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS): Allows detailed analysis of antibody gene sequences, aiding in the identification and optimization of antibody fragments.
- CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Editing: Employed to modify genes in cell lines to produce antibody fragments with enhanced properties.
Workflow of Therapeutic Antibody Fragment Development
Antigen Identification and Validation
Identifying and validating target antigens specific to pancreatic cancer cells.
Antibody Fragment Design and Engineering
Designing and engineering antibody fragments with high affinity and specificity for the target antigen.
In Vitro Screening and Characterization
Conducting in vitro assays to screen for antibody fragments with desired binding characteristics.
In Vivo
Testing
Testing the efficacy and safety of the antibody fragments in suitable animal models of pancreatic cancer.
Preclinical Validation
Performing comprehensive preclinical validation to ensure the therapeutic potential of the antibody fragments.
Alfa Cytology's therapeutic antibody fragment development service for pancreatic cancer offers a cutting-edge approach to developing highly specific and effective therapeutic agents. By leveraging advanced technologies and a comprehensive development process, this service aims to contribute significantly to the advancement of pancreatic cancer treatments. We welcome you to contact us to discuss how this service can be customized to meet your specific research needs and goals.
References
- Xenaki K T, et al. Antibody or Antibody Fragments: Implications for Molecular Imaging and Targeted Therapy of Solid Tumors. Front. Immunol. 2017, 8:1287.
- Nelson A L. Antibody fragments: hope and hype. MAbs. 2010, 2(1):77-83.
- Abi-Ghanem D A, Berghman Luc R. Immunoaffinity chromatography: a review. Aff Chromatograph. 2015: 95-103.
