uses of monoclonal antibodies

• uses of monoclonal antibodies

  • diagnosis in pregnancy tests
  • in laboratories to measure the levels of hormones & chemicals in the blood, or to detect pathogens
  • research to locate/identify molecules in a cell/tissue by binding them to them w a fluorescent dye
  • treat some diseases e.g. cancer
• how would monoclonal antibodies be used to target drugs to treat cancer?

  • mAbs bound to an anti-cancer drug. e.g. radioactive substance, toxic drug, or chemical
  • mAbs injected into patients bloodstream
  • mAbs bind to 'tumour markers' on cancer cells
  • drug stops the cell growing & dividing
• what does a pregnancy test consist of?

  a stick containing mAbs specific to hCG
• what happens to a pregnancy test stick if a woman is pregnant?

  • hCG in urine binds to mAbs attached to a blue bead
  • mAbs w hCG diffuse up the stick
  • mAbs fixed to the stick bind to hCG
  • blue line forms
• what happens to a pregnancy test stick if a woman is not pregnant?

  no hCG in urine so the blue line isn't formed
• advantages of using mAbs to test for pathogens

  • specific to one particular antigen
  • very accurate
  • quick results
• why can mAbs be used to target cancer cells?

  • cancer cells have specific antigens called 'tumour markers' on their cell membranes
  • mAbs are specific to one type of antigen so can be targeted to 'tumour markers' without damaging other cells
• disadvantages of mAbs

  can cause side effects
• how do mAbs fight virus?

  • mAbs bind to antigen
  • antibody is complementary to antigen
  • white blood cells engulf the virus