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Olivares-Hernández R, Riaño-Umbarila L, Becerril B, Alagón A, Vázquez-López H. Pharmacokinetic evaluation of a single chain antibody fragment against scorpion toxins in sheep. Toxicon 2024; 242:107691. [PMID: 38522587 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2024.107691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
A key aspect during the development of antivenoms is the evaluation of the efficiency and security of the therapeutic molecules. In this work, we report the pharmacokinetic analysis of a neutralizing single chain antibody fragment named LR (scFv LR) where three sheep were used as a large animal model. The animals were injected through i.v. route with 2 mg of scFv LR. Blood samples were drawn every minute within the first 15 min, the sampling continues at 20, 25, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120 min, subsequently at 1-h intervals, 3, 4, 5, 6 h, two more samples at 9 and 12 h and, two more samples at 24 and 48 h and finally at one-day intervals during 4 days. scFv LR levels were measured from blood serum and urine samples by an ELISA. The pharmacokinetics of the experimental data was analyzed using the three-exponential kinetics. The value of the fast initial component (τ1=0.409±0.258min) indicated that the scFv is distributed rapidly into the tissues. The mean residence time, MRT, was 45 ± 0.51 min and the clearance (CL), 114.3 ± 14.3 mL/min. From urine samples it was possible to detect significant amounts of scFv LR, which is evidence of renal elimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Olivares-Hernández
- Departamento de Procesos y Tecnología, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Unidad Cuajimalpa, Cuajimalpa de Morelos, Ciudad de México, 05348, Mexico
| | - Lidia Riaño-Umbarila
- Investigadora por México, CONAHCYT. Instituto de Biotecnología-Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico; Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología-Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Avenida Universidad 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62210, Mexico
| | - Baltazar Becerril
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología-Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Avenida Universidad 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62210, Mexico
| | - Alejandro Alagón
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología-Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Avenida Universidad 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62210, Mexico
| | - Hilda Vázquez-López
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología-Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Avenida Universidad 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62210, Mexico.
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Li Z, Liu C, Li C, Wang F, Liu J, Zheng Z, Wu J, Zhang B. Irinotecan/scFv co-loaded liposomes coaction on tumor cells and CAFs for enhanced colorectal cancer therapy. J Nanobiotechnology 2021; 19:421. [PMID: 34906155 PMCID: PMC8670172 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-021-01172-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), as an important component of stroma, not only supply the "soils" to promote tumor invasion and metastasis, but also form a physical barrier to hinder the penetration of therapeutic agents. Based on this, the combinational strategy that action on both tumor cells and CAFs simultaneously would be a promising approach for improving the antitumor effect. RESULTS In this study, the novel multifunctional liposomes (IRI-RGD/R9-sLip) were designed, which integrated the advantages including IRI and scFv co-loading, different targets, RGD mediated active targeting, R9 promoting cell efficient permeation and lysosomal escape. As expected, IRI-RGD/R9-sLip showed enhanced cytotoxicity in different cell models, effectively increased the accumulation in tumor sites, as well as exhibited deep permeation ability both in vitro and in vivo. Notably, IRI-RGD/R9-sLip not only exhibited superior in vivo anti-tumor effect in both CAFs-free and CAFs-abundant bearing mice models, but also presented excellent anti-metastasis efficiency in lung metastasis model. CONCLUSION In a word, the novel combinational strategy by coaction on both "seeds" and "soils" of the tumor provides a new approach for cancer therapy, and the prepared liposomes could efficiently improve the antitumor effect with promising clinical application prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaohuan Li
- School of Pharmacy, Weifang Medical University Weifang, Shandong, 261053, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunxi Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Ji'nan, 250012, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Chenglei Li
- School of Pharmacy, Weifang Medical University Weifang, Shandong, 261053, People's Republic of China
| | - Fangqing Wang
- School of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianhao Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Weifang Medical University Weifang, Shandong, 261053, People's Republic of China
| | - Zengjuan Zheng
- School of Pharmacy, Weifang Medical University Weifang, Shandong, 261053, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingliang Wu
- School of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
| | - Bo Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Weifang Medical University Weifang, Shandong, 261053, People's Republic of China.
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Zheng C, Ricci J, Zhang Q, Alawieh A, Yang X, Nadig S, He S, Engel P, Jin J, Atkinson C, Tomlinson S. Characterization of Novel P-Selectin Targeted Complement Inhibitors in Murine Models of Hindlimb Injury and Transplantation. Front Immunol 2021; 12:785229. [PMID: 34899752 PMCID: PMC8654931 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.785229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The complement system has long been recognized as a potential druggable target for a variety of inflammatory conditions. Very few complement inhibitors have been approved for clinical use, but a great number are in clinical development, nearly all of which systemically inhibit complement. There are benefits of targeting complement inhibition to sites of activation/disease in terms of efficacy and safety, and here we describe P-selectin targeted complement inhibitors, with and without a dual function of directly blocking P-selectin-mediated cell-adhesion. The constructs are characterized in vitro and in murine models of hindlimb ischemia/reperfusion injury and hindlimb transplantation. Both constructs specifically targeted to reperfused hindlimb and provided protection in the hindlimb ischemia/reperfusion injury model. The P-selectin blocking construct was the more efficacious, which correlated with less myeloid cell infiltration, but with similarly reduced levels of complement deposition. The blocking construct also improved tissue perfusion and, unlike the nonblocking construct, inhibited coagulation, raising the possibility of differential application of each construct, such as in thrombotic vs. hemorrhagic conditions. Similar outcomes were obtained with the blocking construct following vascularized composite graft transplantation, and treatment also significantly increased graft survival. This is outcome may be particularly pertinent in the context of vascularized composite allograft transplantation, since reduced ischemia reperfusion injury is linked to a less rigorous alloimmune response that may translate to the requirement of a less aggressive immunosuppressive regime for this normally nonlife-threatening procedure. In summary, we describe a new generation of targeted complement inhibitor with multi-functionality that includes targeting to vascular injury, P-selectin blockade, complement inhibition and anti-thrombotic activity. The constructs described also bound to both mouse and human P-selectin which may facilitate potential translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaowen Zheng
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
- Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Jerec Ricci
- The Lee Patterson Allen Transplant Immunobiology Laboratory, Department of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
- Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Qinqin Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Nanxishan Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guilin, China
| | - Ali Alawieh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Xiaofeng Yang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Satish Nadig
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
- The Lee Patterson Allen Transplant Immunobiology Laboratory, Department of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
- Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Songqing He
- Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Pablo Engel
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Junfei Jin
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine in Liver Injury and Repair, The Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Carl Atkinson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
- The Lee Patterson Allen Transplant Immunobiology Laboratory, Department of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
- Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Stephen Tomlinson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
- Ralph H. Johnson Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, SC, United States
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White I, Tamot N, Doddareddy R, Ho J, Jiao Q, Harvilla PB, Yang TY, Geist B, Borrok MJ, Truppo MD, Ganesan R, Chowdhury P, Zwolak A. Bifunctional molecules targeting SARS-CoV-2 spike and the polymeric Ig receptor display neutralization activity and mucosal enrichment. MAbs 2021; 13:1987180. [PMID: 34693867 PMCID: PMC8547864 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2021.1987180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The global health crisis and economic tolls of COVID-19 necessitate a panoply of strategies to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection. To date, few treatment options exist, although neutralizing antibodies against the spike glycoprotein have proven to be effective. Because infection is initiated at the mucosa and propagates mainly at this site throughout the course of the disease, blocking the virus at the mucosal milieu should be effective. However, administration of biologics to the mucosa presents a substantial challenge. Here, we describe bifunctional molecules combining single-domain variable regions that bind to the polymeric Ig receptor (pIgR) and to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein via addition of the ACE2 extracellular domain (ECD). The hypothesis behind this design is that pIgR will transport the molecule from the circulation to the mucosal surface where the ACE ECD would act as a decoy receptor for the nCoV2. The bifunctional molecules bind SARS-Cov-2 spike glycoprotein in vitro and efficiently transcytose across the lung epithelium in human tissue-based analyses. Designs featuring ACE2 tethered to the C-terminus of the Fc do not induce antibody-dependent cytotoxicity against pIgR-expressing cells. These molecules thus represent a potential therapeutic modality for systemic administration of neutralizing anti-SARS-CoV-2 molecules to the mucosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian White
- Janssen Biotherapeutics, Janssen R&D LLC, Spring House, PA, USA
| | - Ninkka Tamot
- Janssen Biotherapeutics, Janssen R&D LLC, Spring House, PA, USA
| | | | - Jason Ho
- Janssen Biotherapeutics, Janssen R&D LLC, Spring House, PA, USA
| | - Qun Jiao
- Janssen Biotherapeutics, Janssen R&D LLC, Spring House, PA, USA
| | | | - Tong-Yuan Yang
- Janssen Biotherapeutics, Janssen R&D LLC, Spring House, PA, USA
| | - Brian Geist
- Janssen Biotherapeutics, Janssen R&D LLC, Spring House, PA, USA
| | - M. Jack Borrok
- Janssen Biotherapeutics, Janssen R&D LLC, Spring House, PA, USA
| | - Matthew D. Truppo
- Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Development, Janssen R&D LLC, Spring House, PA, USA
| | - Rajkumar Ganesan
- Biologics Discovery, Alector, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Adam Zwolak
- Janssen Biotherapeutics, Janssen R&D LLC, Spring House, PA, USA
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Root AR, Guntas G, Katragadda M, Apgar JR, Narula J, Chang CS, Hanscom S, McKenna M, Wade J, Meade C, Ma W, Guo Y, Liu Y, Duan W, Hendershot C, King AC, Zhang Y, Sousa E, Tam A, Benard S, Yang H, Kelleher K, Jin F, Piche-Nicholas N, Keating SE, Narciandi F, Lawrence-Henderson R, Arai M, Stochaj WR, Svenson K, Mosyak L, Lam K, Francis C, Marquette K, Wroblewska L, Zhu HL, Sheehan AD, LaVallie ER, D’Antona AM, Betts A, King L, Rosfjord E, Cunningham O, Lin L, Sapra P, Tchistiakova L, Mathur D, Bloom L. Discovery and optimization of a novel anti-GUCY2c x CD3 bispecific antibody for the treatment of solid tumors. MAbs 2021; 13:1850395. [PMID: 33459147 PMCID: PMC7833764 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2020.1850395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
We report here the discovery and optimization of a novel T cell retargeting anti-GUCY2C x anti-CD3ε bispecific antibody for the treatment of solid tumors. Using a combination of hybridoma, phage display and rational design protein engineering, we have developed a fully humanized and manufacturable CD3 bispecific antibody that demonstrates favorable pharmacokinetic properties and potent in vivo efficacy. Anti-GUCY2C and anti-CD3ε antibodies derived from mouse hybridomas were first humanized into well-behaved human variable region frameworks with full retention of binding and T-cell mediated cytotoxic activity. To address potential manufacturability concerns, multiple approaches were taken in parallel to optimize and de-risk the two antibody variable regions. These approaches included structure-guided rational mutagenesis and phage display-based optimization, focusing on improving stability, reducing polyreactivity and self-association potential, removing chemical liabilities and proteolytic cleavage sites, and de-risking immunogenicity. Employing rapid library construction methods as well as automated phage display and high-throughput protein production workflows enabled efficient generation of an optimized bispecific antibody with desirable manufacturability properties, high stability, and low nonspecific binding. Proteolytic cleavage and deamidation in complementarity-determining regions were also successfully addressed. Collectively, these improvements translated to a molecule with potent single-agent in vivo efficacy in a tumor cell line adoptive transfer model and a cynomolgus monkey pharmacokinetic profile (half-life>4.5 days) suitable for clinical development. Clinical evaluation of PF-07062119 is ongoing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam R. Root
- BioMedicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Jatin Narula
- BioMedicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Sara Hanscom
- BioMedicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Jason Wade
- BioMedicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Caryl Meade
- BioMedicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Weijun Ma
- BioMedicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Yongjing Guo
- BioMedicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Yan Liu
- BioMedicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Weili Duan
- BioMedicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Amy C. King
- BioMedicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Yan Zhang
- BioMedicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Eric Sousa
- BioMedicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Amy Tam
- BioMedicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Susan Benard
- BioMedicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Han Yang
- BioMedicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Fang Jin
- BioMedicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Maya Arai
- BioMedicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Lidia Mosyak
- BioMedicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - H. Lily Zhu
- BioMedicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Andover, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Alison Betts
- BioMedicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Lindsay King
- BioMedicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Andover, MA, USA
| | - Edward Rosfjord
- Oncology Research & Development, Pfizer Inc., Pearl River, NY, USA
| | | | - Laura Lin
- BioMedicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Puja Sapra
- Oncology Research & Development, Pfizer Inc., Pearl River, NY, USA
| | | | - Divya Mathur
- Oncology Research & Development, Pfizer Inc., Pearl River, NY, USA
| | - Laird Bloom
- BioMedicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
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V Kholodenko I, V Kalinovsky D, V Svirshchevskaya E, I Doronin I, V Konovalova M, V Kibardin A, V Shamanskaya T, S Larin S, M Deyev S, V Kholodenko R. Multimerization through Pegylation Improves Pharmacokinetic Properties of scFv Fragments of GD2-Specific Antibodies. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24213835. [PMID: 31653037 PMCID: PMC6864547 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24213835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Antigen-binding fragments of antibodies specific to the tumor-associated ganglioside GD2 are well poised to play a substantial role in modern GD2-targeted cancer therapies, however, rapid elimination from the body and reduced affinity compared to full-length antibodies limit their therapeutic potential. In this study, scFv fragments of GD2-specific antibodies 14.18 were produced in a mammalian expression system that specifically bind to ganglioside GD2, followed by site-directed pegylation to generate mono-, di-, and tetra-scFv fragments. Fractionated pegylated dimers and tetramers of scFv fragments showed significant increase of the binding to GD2 which was not accompanied by cross-reactivity with other gangliosides. Pegylated multimeric di-scFvs and tetra-scFvs exhibited cytotoxic effects in GD2-positive tumor cells, while their circulation time in blood significantly increased compared with monomeric antibody fragments. We also demonstrated a more efficient tumor uptake of the multimers in a syngeneic GD2-positive mouse cancer model. The findings of this study provide the rationale for improving therapeutic characteristics of GD2-specific antibody fragments by multimerization and propose a strategy to generate such molecules. On the basis of multimeric antibody fragments, bispecific antibodies and conjugates with cytotoxic drugs or radioactive isotopes may be developed that will possess improved pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina V Kholodenko
- Orekhovich Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, 10, Pogodinskaya St., Moscow 119121, Russia.
| | - Daniel V Kalinovsky
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 16/10, Miklukho-Maklaya St., Moscow 117997, Russia.
| | - Elena V Svirshchevskaya
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 16/10, Miklukho-Maklaya St., Moscow 117997, Russia.
| | - Igor I Doronin
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 16/10, Miklukho-Maklaya St., Moscow 117997, Russia.
- Real Target LLC, Miklukho-Maklaya St., 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russia.
| | - Maria V Konovalova
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 16/10, Miklukho-Maklaya St., Moscow 117997, Russia.
| | - Alexey V Kibardin
- D. Rogachev Federal Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, 1, Samory Mashela St., Moscow 117997, Russia.
| | - Tatyana V Shamanskaya
- D. Rogachev Federal Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, 1, Samory Mashela St., Moscow 117997, Russia.
| | - Sergey S Larin
- D. Rogachev Federal Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, 1, Samory Mashela St., Moscow 117997, Russia.
| | - Sergey M Deyev
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 16/10, Miklukho-Maklaya St., Moscow 117997, Russia.
- Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 8-2, Trubetskaya St., Moscow 119992, Russia.
| | - Roman V Kholodenko
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 16/10, Miklukho-Maklaya St., Moscow 117997, Russia.
- Real Target LLC, Miklukho-Maklaya St., 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russia.
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Esquerda-Canals G, Martí-Clúa J, Villegas S. Pharmacokinetic parameters and mechanism of action of an efficient anti-Aβ single chain antibody fragment. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0217793. [PMID: 31150495 PMCID: PMC6544282 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The success of the targeting of amyloid-β (Aβ) oligomers through immunotherapy in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) mouse models has not been translated into the clinics. The use of single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) has been proposed to prevent the potential severe effects of full-length mAbs by precluding crystallizable fraction-mediated microglia activation. The efficacy of scFv-h3D6, a bapineuzumab-derived anti-Aβ scFv, has been extensively proven. In this work, we compared scFv-h3D6-EL, an elongated variant of the scFv-h3D6, with its original version to assess whether its characteristic higher thermodynamic stability improved its pharmacokinetic parameters. Although scFv-h3D6-EL had a longer half-life than its original version, its absorption from the peritoneal cavity into the systemic compartment was lower than that of the original version. Moreover, we attempted to determine the mechanism underlying the protective effect of scFv-h3D6. We found that scFv-h3D6 showed compartmental distribution and more interestingly crossed the blood–brain barrier. In the brain, scFv-h3D6 was engulfed by glial cells or internalized by Aβ peptide-containing neurons in the early phase post-injection, and was colocalized with the Aβ peptide almost exclusively in glial cells in the late phase post-injection. Aβ peptide levels in the brain decreased simultaneously with an increase in scFv-h3D6 levels. This observation in addition to the increased tumor necrosis factor-α levels in the late phase post-injection suggested that the engulfment of Aβ peptide/scFv-h3D6 complex extruded from large neurons by phagocytic cells was the mechanism underlying Aβ peptide withdrawal. The mechanism of action of scFv-h3D6 demonstrates the effectivity of Aβ-immunotherapy and lays the background for other studies focused on the finding of a treatment for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gisela Esquerda-Canals
- Protein Design and Immunotherapy Group, Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Unitat de Biociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
- Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Fisiologia i Immunologia, Unitat de Citologia i d’Histologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Joaquim Martí-Clúa
- Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Fisiologia i Immunologia, Unitat de Citologia i d’Histologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Sandra Villegas
- Protein Design and Immunotherapy Group, Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Unitat de Biociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
- * E-mail:
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8
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Pizzo ME, Wolak DJ, Kumar NN, Brunette E, Brunnquell CL, Hannocks M, Abbott NJ, Meyerand ME, Sorokin L, Stanimirovic DB, Thorne RG. Intrathecal antibody distribution in the rat brain: surface diffusion, perivascular transport and osmotic enhancement of delivery. J Physiol 2018; 596:445-475. [PMID: 29023798 PMCID: PMC5792566 DOI: 10.1113/jp275105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 170] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 09/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS It is unclear precisely how macromolecules (e.g. endogenous proteins and exogenous immunotherapeutics) access brain tissue from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). We show that transport at the brain-CSF interface involves a balance between Fickian diffusion in the extracellular spaces at the brain surface and convective transport in perivascular spaces of cerebral blood vessels. Intrathecally-infused antibodies exhibited size-dependent access to the perivascular spaces and tunica media basement membranes of leptomeningeal arteries. Perivascular access and distribution of full-length IgG could be enhanced by intrathecal co-infusion of hyperosmolar mannitol. Pores or stomata present on CSF-facing leptomeningeal cells ensheathing blood vessels in the subarachnoid space may provide unique entry sites into the perivascular spaces from the CSF. These results illuminate new mechanisms likely to govern antibody trafficking at the brain-CSF interface with relevance for immune surveillance in the healthy brain and insights into the distribution of therapeutic antibodies. ABSTRACT The precise mechanisms governing the central distribution of macromolecules from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to the brain and spinal cord remain poorly understood, despite their importance for physiological processes such as antibody trafficking for central immune surveillance, as well as several ongoing intrathecal clinical trials. In the present study, we clarify how IgG and smaller single-domain antibodies (sdAb) distribute throughout the whole brain in a size-dependent manner after intrathecal infusion in rats using ex vivo fluorescence and in vivo three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging. Antibody distribution was characterized by diffusion at the brain surface and widespread distribution to deep brain regions along the perivascular spaces of all vessel types, with sdAb accessing a four- to seven-fold greater brain area than IgG. Perivascular transport involved blood vessels of all caliber and putative smooth muscle and astroglial basement membrane compartments. Perivascular access to smooth muscle basement membrane compartments also exhibited size-dependence. Electron microscopy was used to show stomata on leptomeningeal coverings of blood vessels in the subarachnoid space as potential access points allowing substances in the CSF to enter the perivascular space. Osmolyte co-infusion significantly enhanced perivascular access of the larger antibody from the CSF, with intrathecal 0.75 m mannitol increasing the number of perivascular profiles per slice area accessed by IgG by ∼50%. The results of the present study reveal potential distribution mechanisms for endogenous IgG, which is one of the most abundant proteins in the CSF, as well as provide new insights with respect to understanding and improving the drug delivery of macromolecules to the central nervous system via the intrathecal route.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle E. Pizzo
- School of PharmacyDivision of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWIUSA
- Clinical Neuroengineering Training ProgramUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWIUSA
| | - Daniel J. Wolak
- School of PharmacyDivision of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWIUSA
- Clinical Neuroengineering Training ProgramUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWIUSA
| | - Niyanta N. Kumar
- School of PharmacyDivision of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWIUSA
| | - Eric Brunette
- Human Health Therapeutics Research CentreNational Research Council of CanadaOttawaCanada
| | | | - Melanie‐Jane Hannocks
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry and PathobiochemistryMuenster UniversityMuensterGermany
- Cells‐in‐Motion Cluster of ExcellenceMuenster UniversityMuensterGermany
| | - N. Joan Abbott
- Institute of Pharmaceutical ScienceKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - M. Elizabeth Meyerand
- Clinical Neuroengineering Training ProgramUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWIUSA
- Department of Medical PhysicsUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWIUSA
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWIUSA
| | - Lydia Sorokin
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry and PathobiochemistryMuenster UniversityMuensterGermany
- Cells‐in‐Motion Cluster of ExcellenceMuenster UniversityMuensterGermany
| | - Danica B. Stanimirovic
- Human Health Therapeutics Research CentreNational Research Council of CanadaOttawaCanada
| | - Robert G. Thorne
- School of PharmacyDivision of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWIUSA
- Clinical Neuroengineering Training ProgramUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWIUSA
- Neuroscience Training ProgramUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWIUSA
- Cellular and Molecular Pathology Graduate ProgramUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWIUSA
- Institute for Clinical and Translational ResearchUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonWIUSA
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9
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Reichard EE, Nanaware-Kharade N, Gonzalez GA, Thakkar S, Owens SM, Peterson EC. PEGylation of a High-Affinity Anti-(+)Methamphetamine Single Chain Antibody Fragment Extends Functional Half-Life by Reducing Clearance. Pharm Res 2016; 33:2954-2966. [PMID: 27620175 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-016-2017-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Methamphetamine (METH) abuse is a worldwide drug problem, yet no FDA-approved pharmacological treatments are available for METH abuse. Therefore, we produced an anti-METH single chain antibody fragment (scFv7F9Cys) as a pharmacological treatment for METH abuse. ScFv's have a short half-life due to their small size, limiting their clinical use. Thus, we examined the pharmacokinetic effects of conjugating poly(ethylene) glycol (-PEG) to scFv7F9Cys to extend its functional half-life. METHODS The affinity of scFv7F9Cys and PEG conjugates to METH was determined in vitro via equilibrium dialysis saturation binding. Pharmacokinetic and parameters of scFv7F9Cys and scFv7F9Cys-PEG20K (30 mg/kg i.v. each) and their ability to bind METH in vivo were determined in male Sprague-Dawley rats receiving a subcutaneous infusion of METH (3.2 mg/kg/day). RESULTS Of three PEGylated conjugates, scFv7F9Cys-PEG20K was determined the most viable therapeutic candidate. PEGylation of scFv7F9Cys did not alter METH binding functionality in vitro, and produced a 27-fold increase in the in vivo half-life of the antibody fragment. Furthermore, total METH serum concentrations increased following scFv7F9Cys or scFv7F9Cys-PEG20K administration, with scFv7F9Cys-PEG20K producing significantly longer changes in METH distribution than scFv7F9Cys. CONCLUSIONS PEGylation of scFv7F9Cys significantly increase the functional half-life of scFv7F9Cys, suggesting it may be a long-lasting pharmacological treatment option for METH abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily E Reichard
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205, USA
| | - Nisha Nanaware-Kharade
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205, USA
| | - Guillermo A Gonzalez
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205, USA
| | - Shraddha Thakkar
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205, USA
| | - S Michael Owens
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205, USA
| | - Eric C Peterson
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205, USA.
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10
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Lee G, Cho S, Hoang PM, Kim D, Lee Y, Kil EJ, Byun SJ, Lee TK, Kim DH, Kim S, Lee S. Therapeutic Strategy for the Prevention of Pseudorabies Virus Infection in C57BL/6 Mice by 3D8 scFv with Intrinsic Nuclease Activity. Mol Cells 2015; 38:773-80. [PMID: 26255831 PMCID: PMC4588720 DOI: 10.14348/molcells.2015.0073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2015] [Revised: 06/09/2015] [Accepted: 06/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
3D8 single chain variable fragment (scFv) is a recombinant monoclonal antibody with nuclease activity that was originally isolated from autoimmune-prone MRL mice. In a previous study, we analyzed the nuclease activity of 3D8 scFv and determined that a HeLa cell line expressing 3D8 scFv conferred resistance to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and pseudorabies virus (PRV). In this study, we demonstrate that 3D8 scFv could be delivered to target tissues and cells where it exerted a therapeutic effect against PRV. PRV was inoculated via intramuscular injection, and 3D8 scFv was injected intraperitoneally. The observed therapeutic effect of 3D8 scFv against PRV was also supported by results from quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, southern hybridization, and immunohistochemical assays. Intraperitoneal injection of 5 and 10 μg 3D8 scFv resulted in no detectable toxicity. The survival rate in C57BL/6 mice was 9% after intramuscular injection of 10 LD50 PRV. In contrast, the 3D8 scFv-injected C57BL/6 mice showed survival rates of 57% (5 μg) and 47% (10 μg). The results indicate that 3D8 scFv could be utilized as an effective antiviral agent in several animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gunsup Lee
- Department of Genetic Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746,
Korea
- Fruit Research Division, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon 440-706,
Korea
| | - SeungChan Cho
- Department of Genetic Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746,
Korea
| | - Phuong Mai Hoang
- Department of Genetic Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746,
Korea
| | - Dongjun Kim
- Department of Genetic Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746,
Korea
| | - Yongjun Lee
- Department of Genetic Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746,
Korea
| | - Eui-Joon Kil
- Department of Genetic Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746,
Korea
| | - Sung-June Byun
- Animal Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon 441-706,
Korea
| | - Taek-Kyun Lee
- South Sea Environment Research Department, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Geoje 656-834,
Korea
| | - Dae-Hyun Kim
- Fruit Research Division, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon 440-706,
Korea
| | - Sunghan Kim
- Department of Plant Science, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and Plant Genomics and Breeding Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-921,
Korea
| | - Sukchan Lee
- Department of Genetic Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746,
Korea
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11
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Aluri SR, Shi P, Gustafson JA, Wang W, Lin YA, Cui H, Liu S, Conti PS, Li Z, Hu P, Epstein AL, MacKay JA. A hybrid protein-polymer nanoworm potentiates apoptosis better than a monoclonal antibody. ACS Nano 2014; 8:2064-76. [PMID: 24484356 PMCID: PMC4004287 DOI: 10.1021/nn403973g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2013] [Accepted: 01/31/2014] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
B-cell lymphomas continue to occur with a high incidence. The chimeric antibody known as Rituximab (Rituxan) has become a vital therapy for these patients. Rituximab induces cell death via binding and clustering of the CD20 receptor by Fcγ expressing effector cells. Because of the limited mobility of effector cells, it may be advantageous to cluster CD20 directly using multivalent nanostructures. To explore this strategy, this manuscript introduces a nanoparticle that assembles from a fusion between a single chain antibody and a soluble protein polymer. These hybrid proteins express in Escherichia coli and do not require bioconjugation between the antibody and a substrate. Surprisingly a fusion between an anti-CD20 single chain antibody and a soluble protein polymer assemble worm-like nanostructures, which were characterized using light scattering and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy. These nanoworms competitively bind CD20 on two B-cell lymphoma cell lines, exhibit concentration-dependent induction of apoptosis, and induce apoptosis better than Rituximab alone. Similar activity was observed in vivo using a non-Hodgkin lymphoma xenograft model. In comparison to Rituximab, systemic nanoworms significantly slowed tumor growth. These findings suggest that hybrid nanoworms targeted at CD20 may be useful treatments for B-cell related malignancies. Because of the ubiquity of antibody therapeutics, related nanoworms may have uses against other molecular targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suhaas Rayudu Aluri
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, United States
| | - Pu Shi
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, United States
| | - Joshua A. Gustafson
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, United States
| | - Wan Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, United States
| | - Yi-An Lin
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Honggang Cui
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Shuanglong Liu
- Department of Radiology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
| | - Peter S. Conti
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, United States
- Department of Radiology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
| | - Zibo Li
- Department of Radiology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
| | - Peisheng Hu
- Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
| | - Alan L. Epstein
- Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
| | - John Andrew MacKay
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
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12
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Xin L, Cao J, Cheng H, Zeng F, Hu X. Stealth cationic liposomes modified with anti-CAGE single-chain fragment variable deliver recombinant methioninase for gastric carcinoma therapy. J Nanosci Nanotechnol 2013; 13:178-183. [PMID: 23646714 DOI: 10.1166/jnn.2013.6881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Stealth cationic liposomes (SCLs) modified with tumor-targeting single-chain fragment variable (scFV) antibody for systemic delivery of recombinant methioninase (rMETase) for gastric cancer were prepared successfully. These functional SCL nanoparticles are composed of cationic lipids, dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine, and distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine-polyethylene glycol, which have lower gene transfection efficiencies compared with Lipofectamine 2000, and can also be used as effective gene delivery vectors. Increased therapeutic efficiency of rMETase-loaded scFV-SCLs were tested in SGC-7901 cells and compared with free rMETase in solution and rMETase-loaded SCLs. In addition, scFV-SCLs (effective diameter: 185.7 nm; polydispersity index: 0.236) can significantly boost rhodamine 123 cellular accumulation in the cytoplasm. The scFV-targeted SCLs can be used as a potentially effective drug delivery system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Xin
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 330006 Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
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13
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Hutt M, Färber-Schwarz A, Unverdorben F, Richter F, Kontermann RE. Plasma half-life extension of small recombinant antibodies by fusion to immunoglobulin-binding domains. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:4462-9. [PMID: 22147690 PMCID: PMC3281650 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.311522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2011] [Revised: 11/23/2011] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Many therapeutic proteins possessing a small size are rapidly cleared from circulation. Half-life extension strategies have therefore become increasingly important to improve the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of protein therapeutics. Here, we performed a comparative analysis of the half-life extension properties of various bacterial immunoglobulin-binding domains (IgBDs) derived from Staphylococcus protein A (SpA), Streptococcus protein G (SpG), and Finegoldia (formerly Peptostreptococcus) protein L (PpL). These domains, composed of 50-60 amino acid residues, were fused to the C terminus of a single-chain Fv and a bispecific single-chain diabody, respectively. All fusion proteins were produced in mammalian cells and retained their antigen-binding properties. The half-lives of the antibody molecules were prolonged to varying extents for the different IgBDs. The strongest effects in mice were observed for domain C3 of SpG (SpG(C3)) followed by domains B and D of SpA, suggesting that SpG(C3) is particularly useful to extend the plasma half-life of small proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meike Hutt
- From the Institut für Zellbiologie und Immunologie, Universität Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Aline Färber-Schwarz
- From the Institut für Zellbiologie und Immunologie, Universität Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Felix Unverdorben
- From the Institut für Zellbiologie und Immunologie, Universität Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Fabian Richter
- From the Institut für Zellbiologie und Immunologie, Universität Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Roland E. Kontermann
- From the Institut für Zellbiologie und Immunologie, Universität Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
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14
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Mabry R, Snavely M. Therapeutic bispecific antibodies: The selection of stable single-chain fragments to overcome engineering obstacles. IDrugs 2010; 13:543-549. [PMID: 20721825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The clinical success of mAbs continues to reinforce antibody engineering as an essential tool for the development of biologics. Research focused on discovering the next generation of therapeutics has prompted a revisiting of the concept of bispecific antibodies (bsAbs). Recently, clinical programs investigating combinations of mAb therapies have renewed interest in the applications of bsAbs. However, because of challenges with production, efforts directed toward the development of bsAbs have yet to yield a product approved by the FDA. The current status of these proteins implies that the strategies for constructing therapeutic bsAbs will likely require a highly refined design plan at the outset of the engineering process. Antibody fragments are attractive building blocks for the assembly of bsAbs. Of the recombinant antibody fragments, single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) offer the advantage of expression as a single polypeptide, thereby greatly simplifying production. However, issues with stability have plagued these proteins and limit the application of scFvs as therapeutics. Recent advances in selection processes using display platforms have been reported that facilitate the 'evolution' of scFvs to obtain stabilities comparable with those of mAbs. The timely advances in scFv engineering parallel the resurgence of bsAbs and enable the construction of dual-targeting proteins that can be manufactured as therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Mabry
- Freelance Scientific Consultant, Hanover, NH, USA.
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