Antibodies

• used in medical diagnoses and drug development
• Monoclonal antibodies:

  • identical in structure
  • specific
  • can make them bind to anything you want
• Monoclonal antibodies can bind to tumour markers (antigens on cancer cells) and deliver anti-cancer drugs to the specific cells instead of all round the body
• Monoclonal antibodies are used in pregnancy tests
• Used in ELISA tests
• Direct ELISA test- uses a single antibody that is complimentary to the antigen you are testing for
• Indirect ELISA test- uses two different antibodies
• ELISA test:

  • antigens in a well
  • add bodily fluid (if antibodies are present, they'll bind to the antigen)
  • Monoclonal antibody is added, which binds to the human antibody
  • Substrate is added and changes to a coloured product by the enzyme
• Herceptin monoclonal antibodies can be used to prevent the growth and division of breast cancer