Radio-immunological technique

The previous methodology, illustrated by the sulfate example, has been employed since the 1960s for the measurement of insulin in serum. The technique, named radio-immunology, is a transposition into immuno-chemistry of the preceding experiment. 

These results confirm the hypothesis that the immunological activity of a polysaccharide is dependent on a specific conformational feature and the presence of a certain number of anionic domains. In our opinion, the approach to a rational drug design has to include the production of radio-, fluorescence- or gold-labeled polysaccharides and antibodies. These tools will help to explain the requirements for an optimal polysaccharide-immune cell interaction. This technique could also be useful for localizing the site of binding on the surface of the immune cell thus giving information on the pharmacokinetic and bioavailability of polysaccharides after oral and parenteral application. 

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