Issue 5, 2024

Antibodies, repertoires and microdevices in antibody discovery and characterization

Abstract

Therapeutic antibodies are paramount in treating a wide range of diseases, particularly in auto-immunity, inflammation and cancer, and novel antibody candidates recognizing a vast array of novel antigens are needed to expand the usefulness and applications of these powerful molecules. Microdevices play an essential role in this challenging endeavor at various stages since many general requirements of the overall process overlap nicely with the general advantages of microfluidics. Therefore, microfluidic devices are rapidly taking over various steps in the process of new candidate isolation, such as antibody characterization and discovery workflows. Such technologies can allow for vast improvements in time-lines and incorporate conservative antibody stability and characterization assays, but most prominently screenings and functional characterization within integrated workflows due to high throughput and standardized workflows. First, we aim to provide an overview of the challenges of developing new therapeutic candidates, their repertoires and requirements. Afterward, this review focuses on the discovery of antibodies using microfluidic systems, technological aspects of micro devices and small-scale antibody protein characterization and selection, as well as their integration and implementation into antibody discovery workflows. We close with future developments in microfluidic detection and antibody isolation principles and the field in general.

Graphical abstract: Antibodies, repertoires and microdevices in antibody discovery and characterization

Article information

Article type
Critical Review
Submitted
17 Oct 2023
Accepted
01 Dec 2023
First published
02 Jan 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Lab Chip, 2024,24, 1207-1225

Antibodies, repertoires and microdevices in antibody discovery and characterization

L. J. Schlotheuber, I. Lüchtefeld and K. Eyer, Lab Chip, 2024, 24, 1207 DOI: 10.1039/D3LC00887H

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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