mAbs can be used in theraputics to target specific cells like cancer cells
Method 1: Administering mAbs which bind to complementary specific antigens on cancer cell, preventing molecules that cause cell division from binding. Since mAbs aren't toxic, they won't harm the rest of the body
Method 2: Attaching a drug to a mAb which kills the cancer cell. The mAb directs the drug to the cancer cell, reducing the chances of the drug harming a healthy cells
Use of monoclonal antibodies: Diagnostics
mAbs can be used in medical diagnostic the formation of an antigen-antibody complex enables the condition to be detected
Monoclonal antibodies: Ethics
The development of mAbs for treatment involves delibrately infecting mice
During human trials, there has been reports of dangerous side effects and even death
What is a monoclonal antibody?
Antibodies with the same tertiary structure, produced from cloned plasma cells
