Antibodies polymerization

There is a clear need for a specific labelling method for carbohydrates on heterogenous fibres. Antibodies can be used as specific markers for carbohydrates. Oligosaccharides derived from xylan by acid hydrolysis (10) and from xyloglucan by cellulase hydrolysis (//) have been used as antigens for production of polyclonal antibodies. Polymeric carbohydrates have also been used as antigens for antibody production (12-14). 

Figure 4. Immunolabelling of bleached birch kraft pulp with anti-MeGlcAXyl prior to (a) and after removal of 25% of original xylan by extensive xylanase treatment (b) and after labelling with anti-xylan antibody (polymeric xylan as antigen) (c). FITC was used as the fluorescent conjugate.

B. Sellergren, Noncovalent molecular imprinting antibody-like molecular recognition in polymeric network materials . Trends. Anal. Chem. 16 310-320 (1997). 

The important advantage of the immunosorbents based on WPG-PA is the fast rate of biospecific interaction between the oligosaccharides and antibodies. For B-trisaccharide-WPG-PA the average sorption time of monoclonal B8 antibodies was 20 times shorter than with B-trisaccharide-Sepharose 4B. The role of the flexible polymeric spacer, therefore, is in this case very pronounced. 

In macromolecular dmg delivery systems, dmgs are attached to polymeric compounds, such as synthetic polymers [60], dendrimers [61], and antibodies [62], in order to enhance the delivery of the active substance to the diseased tissue and to reduce the toxicity to healthy tissue. The use of macromolecular delivery systems provides several advantages extension of the half-life of the dmg, the ability to introduce targeting moieties into the carrier, the possibility of triggered dmg release, and the aforementioned reduced cytotoxicity. 

Some antigens, such as type 3 pneumococcal polysaccharide, EPS and other polymeric substances such as dextrans (poly-D-glucose) and levan (poly-D-fructose) can induce antibody synthesis without the assistance of TH cells. These are known as T-independent (Ti) antigens. Only one class of immunoglobulin (IgM) is synthesized and there is a weak memory response. 

The binding of the antibody is size-dependent. Only the preincubation of the antibodies with oligopectates of degree of polymerization (DP) > 9 inhibits the binding to pectin immobilized in the wells of an ELISA test (Fig. 9.a, b). The difference between dimerized DPS and DP9 oligomers lies in the fact that dimerized DP9 could accommodate five calcium ions between their two chains whereas DPS could only four, which is apparently insufficient for the complexes to resist thermal agitation. 

The discovery of monoclonal antibodies and combining them with polymeric prodrugs is the newest approach to overcome the lack of selectivity for disposition in target tissue (23). Recently the selectivity of antibody-targeted polymeric anthracycline antibiotics to T lymphocytes was accomplished (25). In addition decreased immunogenicity of proteinaceous conjugates with IgG and human transferrin has been reported (26). 

Molecularly imprinted polymers have recently attracted much attention because they are denoted as artificial antibodies which are made from simple chemical components via polymerization and can be used for the preparation ofbiomimetic sensors, affinity separation matrices, catalysts, etc. (Figure 1). 

Sipkins et al. [87] described the detection of tumor angiogenesis with an avp3-specific antibody that was conjugated to polymerized paramagnetic liposomes [87]. The red fluorescence represents the liposomes (Fig. 26c) and the green fluorescence represents blood vessels. In Fig. 26, we see that... 

One of the simplest methods of attaching biomolecules to hydrophobic polymeric particles is the use of passive adsorption. Some of the earliest examples related to the use of particles in immunoassays include the use of non-covalently adsorbed antibody or antigen onto latex microspheres. Protein adsorption onto hydrophobic particles takes place through strong interactions... 

The crosslinking process must minimize polymerization of either the antibody or the toxin. Low molecular weight, 1 1 or 1 2 conjugates of antibody-to-toxin are best. 

Enzymes that contain carbohydrate, such as HRP or GO, may be oxidized with periodate to create reactive derivatives that subsequently can be used to label antibodies or other targeting molecules at their amine groups. The aldehyde-HRP intermediate may be stored for extended periods in a frozen or lyophilized state without loss of activity (either enzymatic or coupling potential). Avoid, however, storage in a liquid state, since polymerization may occur—resulting in precipitation and loss of activity. 

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