Engineered antigen-binding fragments for enhanced crystallization of antibody:antigen complexes

The atomic-resolution structural information that X-ray crystallography can provide on the binding interface between a Fab and its cognate antigen is highly valuable for understanding the mechanism of interaction. However, many Fab:antigen complexes are recalcitrant to crystallization, making the endeavor a considerable effort with no guarantee of success. Consequently, there have been significant steps taken to increase the likelihood of Fab:antigen complex crystallization by altering the Fab framework. In this investigation, we applied the surface entropy reduction strategy coupled with phage-display technology to identify a set of surface substitutions that improve the propensity of a human Fab framework to crystallize. In addition, we showed that combining these surface substitutions with previously reported Crystal Kappa and elbow substitutions results in an extraordinary improvement in Fab and Fab:antigen complex crystallizability, revealing a strong synergistic relationship between these sets of substitutions. Through comprehensive Fab and Fab:antigen complex crystallization screenings followed by structure determination and analysis, we defined the roles that each of these substitutions play in facilitating crystallization and how they complement each other in the process.

A molecular toolkit for heterologous protein secretion across Bacteroides species

Bacteroides species are abundant and prevalent stably colonizing members of the human gut microbiota, making them a promising chassis for developing long-term interventions for chronic diseases. Engineering these bacteria as on-site production and delivery vehicles for biologic drugs or diagnostics, however, requires efficient heterologous protein secretion tools, which are currently lacking. To address this limitation, we systematically investigated methods to enable heterologous protein secretion in Bacteroides using both endogenous and exogenous secretion systems. Here, we report a collection of secretion carriers that can export functional proteins across multiple Bacteroides species at high titers. To understand the mechanistic drivers of Bacteroides secretion, we characterized signal peptide sequence features as well as post-secretion extracellular fate and cargo size limit of protein cargo. To increase titers and enable flexible control of protein secretion, we developed a strong, self-contained, inducible expression circuit. Finally, we validated the functionality of our secretion carriers in vivo in a mouse model. This toolkit should enable expanded development of long-term living therapeutic interventions for chronic gastrointestinal disease.

Computational designing of the ligands of Protein L affinity chromatography based on molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations

Protein L is a multidomain protein from Peptostreptococcus magnus with binding affinity to kappa light chain of human immunoglobulin (Ig) which is used for the purification of antibody fragments by affinity chromatography. The advances in protein engineering and computational biology approaches lead to the development of engineered affinity ligands with improved properties including binding affinity. In this study, molecular dynamics simulations (MDs) and Osprey software were used to design single B domains of the Protein L with higher affinity to antibody fragments. The modified B domains were then polymerized to ligand with six B domains by homology modeling methods. The results showed that single B domain mutants of MB1 (Thr865Trp) and MB2 (Thr847Met-Thr865Trp) had higher binding affinity to Fab compared to the wild single B domain. Also, MDs and molecular docking results showed that the polymerized Proteins L including the wild and mutated six B domains (6B0, 6B1, and 6B2) were stable during MDs and the two mutants of 6B1 and 6B2 showed higher binding affinity to Fab relative to the wild type.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Targeting GD2-Positive Tumor Cells by Pegylated scFv Fragment-Drug Conjugates Carrying Maytansinoids DM1 and DM4

Oligomerization of antibody fragments via modification with polyethylene glycol (pegylation) may alter their function and properties, leading to a multivalent interaction of the resulting constructs with the target antigen. In a recent study, we generated pegylated monomers and multimers of scFv fragments of GD2-specific antibodies using maleimide-thiol chemistry. Multimerization enhanced the antigen-binding properties and demonstrated a more efficient tumor uptake in a syngeneic GD2-positive mouse cancer model compared to monomeric antibody fragments, thereby providing a rationale for improving the therapeutic characteristics of GD2-specific antibody fragments. In this work, we obtained pegylated conjugates of scFv fragments of GD2-specific antibodies with maytansinoids DM1 or DM4 using tetravalent PEG-maleimide (PEG4). The protein products from the two-stage thiol-maleimide reaction resolved by gel electrophoresis indicated that pegylated scFv fragments constituted the predominant part of the protein bands, and most of the scFv formed pegylated monomers and dimers. The conjugates retained the ability to bind ganglioside GD2 comparable to that of the parental scFv fragment and to specifically interact with GD2-positive cells. Both induced significant inhibitory effects in the GD2-positive B78-D14 cell line, in contrast to the GD2-negative B16 cell line. The decrease in the B78-D14 cell viability when treated with scFv-PEG4-DM4 was more prominent than that for scFv-PEG4-DM1, and was characterized by a twofold lower half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50). Unlike the parental scFv fragment, the product of scFv and PEG4 conjugation (scFv-PEG4), consisting predominantly of pegylated scFv multimers and monomers, induced direct cell death in the GD2-positive B78-D14 cells. However, the potency of scFv-PEG4 was low in the selected concentration range, thus demonstrating that the cytotoxic effect of DM1 and DM4 within the antibody fragment-drug conjugates was primary. The suggested approach may contribute to development of novel configurations of antibody fragment-drug conjugates for cancer treatment.

Recent Developments in Bioprocessing of Recombinant Antibody Fragments

Biotechnological and biomedical applications of antibodies have been on a steady rise since the 1980s. As unique and highly specific bioreagents, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have been widely exploited and approved as therapeutic agents. However, the use of mAbs has limitations for therapeutic applications. Antibody fragments (AbFs) with preserved antigen-binding sites have a significant potential to overcome the disadvantages of conventional mAbs, such as heterogeneous tissue distribution after systemic administration, especially in solid tumors, and Fc-mediated bystander activation of the immune system. AbFs possess better biodistribution coefficient due to lower molecular weight. They preserve the functional features of mAbs, such as antigen specificity and binding, while at the same time, ensuring much better tissue penetration. An additional benefit of AbFs is the possibility of their production in bacterial and yeast cells due to the small size, more robust structure, and lack of posttranslational modifications. In this review, we described current approaches to the AbF production with recent examples of AbF synthesis in bacterial and yeast expression systems and methods for the production optimization.

Optimizing the Safety and Efficacy of Bio-Radiopharmaceuticals for Cancer Therapy

The precise delivery of cytotoxic radiation to cancer cells through the combination of a specific targeting vector with a radionuclide for targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT) has proven valuable for cancer care. TRT is increasingly being considered a relevant treatment method in fighting micro-metastases in the case of relapsed and disseminated disease. While antibodies were the first vectors applied in TRT, increasing research data has cited antibody fragments and peptides with superior properties and thus a growing interest in application. As further studies are completed and the need for novel radiopharmaceuticals nurtures, rigorous considerations in the design, laboratory analysis, pre-clinical evaluation, and clinical translation must be considered to ensure improved safety and effectiveness. Here, we assess the status and recent development of biological-based radiopharmaceuticals, with a focus on peptides and antibody fragments. Challenges in radiopharmaceutical design range from target selection, vector design, choice of radionuclides and associated radiochemistry. Dosimetry estimation, and the assessment of mechanisms to increase tumor uptake while reducing off-target exposure are discussed.

Pharmacokinetics and Biodistribution of 89Zr-Miltuximab and Its Antibody Fragments as Glypican-1 Targeting Immuno-PET Agents in Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive form of primary brain cancer, accounting for about 85% of all primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors. With standard treatment strategies like surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, the median survival time of patients with GBM is only 12-15 months from diagnosis. The poor prognosis of GBM is due to a very high tumor recurrence rate following initial treatment, indicating a dire need for improved diagnostic and therapeutic alternatives for this disease. Antibody-based immunotheranostics holds great promise in treating GBM, combining the theranostic applications of radioisotopes and target-specificity of antibodies. In this study, we developed and validated antibody-based positron emission tomography (PET) tracers targeting the heparan sulfate proteoglycan, glypican-1 (GPC-1), for noninvasive detection of disease using diagnostic molecular imaging. GPC-1 is overexpressed in multiple solid tumor types, including GBM, and is a promising biomarker for novel immunotheranostics. Here, we investigate zirconium-89 (⁸⁹Zr)-conjugated Miltuximab (a clinical stage anti-GPC-1 monoclonal antibody developed by GlyTherix, Ltd.) and engineered fragments for their potential as immuno-PET tracers to detect GPC-1^positive GBM tumors in preclinical models. We explore the effects of molecular size, avidity, and Fc-domain on the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution in vivo, by comparing in parallel the full-length antibody (Miltuximab), Fab'2, Fab, and single-chain variable fragment (scFv) formats. High radiolabeling efficiency (>95%) was demonstrated by all the formats and the stability post-radiolabeling was higher for larger constructs of Miltuximab and the Fab. Receptor-mediated internalization of all ⁸⁹Zr-labeled formats was observed in a human GBM cell line in vitro, while full-length Miltuximab demonstrated the highest tumor retention (5.7 ± 0.94% ID/g, day-9 postinjection (p.i.)) and overall better tumor-to-background ratios than the smaller Fc-less formats. Results from in vivo PET image quantification and ex vivo scintillation counting were highly correlated. Altogether, ⁸⁹Zr-DFO-Miltuximab appears to be an effective immuno-PET imaging agent for detecting GPC-1^positive tumors such as GBM and the current results support utility of the Fc containing whole mAb format over smaller antibody fragments for this target.

Bioengineering of Antibody Fragments: Challenges and Opportunities

Antibody fragments are used in the clinic as important therapeutic proteins for treatment of indications where better tissue penetration and less immunogenic molecules are needed. Several expression platforms have been employed for the production of these recombinant proteins, from which E. coli and CHO cell-based systems have emerged as the most promising hosts for higher expression. Because antibody fragments such as Fabs and scFvs are smaller than traditional antibody structures and do not require specific patterns of glycosylation decoration for therapeutic efficacy, it is possible to express them in systems with reduced post-translational modification capacity and high expression yield, for example, in plant and insect cell-based systems. In this review, we describe different bioengineering technologies along with their opportunities and difficulties to manufacture antibody fragments with consideration of stability, efficacy and safety for humans. There is still potential for a new production technology with a view of being simple, fast and cost-effective while maintaining the stability and efficacy of biotherapeutic fragments.

Minibody-Based and scFv-Based Antibody Fragment-Drug Conjugates Selectively Eliminate GD2-Positive Tumor Cells

Ganglioside GD2 is a well-established target expressed on multiple solid tumors, many of which are characterized by low treatment efficiency. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have demonstrated marked success in a number of solid tumors, and GD2-directed drug conjugates may also hold strong therapeutic potential. In a recent study, we showed that ADCs based on the approved antibody dinutuximab and the drugs monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) or F (MMAF) manifested potent and selective cytotoxicity in a panel of tumor cell lines and strongly inhibited solid tumor growth in GD2-positive mouse cancer models. Here, we employed two different GD2-binding moieties-minibodies and scFv fragments that carry variable antibody domains identical to those of dinutuximab, and site-directly conjugated them to MMAE or MMAF by thiol-maleimide chemistry with drug-to-antibody ratios (DAR) of 2 and 1, respectively. Specific binding of the antibody fragment-drug conjugates (FDCs) to GD2 was confirmed in direct ELISA, flow cytometry, and confocal microscopy. Selective cytotoxic and cytostatic effects of the conjugates were observed in GD2-positive but not GD2-negative neuroblastoma and melanoma cell lines. Minibody-based FDCs demonstrated more pronounced cytotoxic effects and stronger antigen binding compared to scFv-based FDCs. The developed molecules may offer considerable practical benefit, since antibody fragment-drug conjugates are capable of enhancing therapeutic efficacy of ADCs by improving their pharmacokinetic characteristics and reducing side effects.

A Hoechst Reporter Enables Visualization of Drug Engagement In Vitro and In Vivo: Toward Safe and Effective Nanodrug Delivery

Assessment of drug activation and subsequent interaction with targets in living tissues could guide nanomedicine design, but technologies enabling insight into how a drug reaches and binds its target are limited. We show that a Hoechst-based reporter system can monitor drug release and engagement from a nanoparticle delivery system in vitro and in vivo, elucidating differences in target-bound drug distribution related to drug-linker and nanoparticle properties. Drug engagement is defined as chemical detachment of drug or reporter from a nanoparticle and subsequent binding to a subcellular target, which in the case of Hoechst results in a fluorescence signal. Hoechst-based nanoreporters for drug activation contain prodrug elements such as dipeptide linkers, conjugation handles, and nanoparticle modifications such as targeting ligands to determine how nanomedicine design affects distribution of drug engaged with a subcellular target, which is tracked via cellular nuclear fluorescence in situ. Furthermore, the nanoplatform is amenable toward common maleimide-based linkers found in many prodrug-based delivery systems including polymer-, peptide-, and antibody-drug conjugates. Findings from the Hoechst reporter system were applied to develop highly potent, targeted, anticancer micelle nanoparticles delivering a monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) prodrug comprising the same linkers employed in Hoechst studies. MMAE nanomedicine with the optimal drug-linker resulted in effective tumor growth inhibition in mice without associated acute toxicity, whereas the nonoptimal linker that showed broader drug activation in Hoechst reporter studies resulted in severe toxicity. Our results demonstrate the potential to synergize direct visualization of drug engagement with nanomedicine drug-linker design to optimize safety and efficacy.

Expanding the chemical diversity of M13 bacteriophage

Bacteriophage M13 virions are very stable nanoparticles that can be modified by chemical and genetic methods. The capsid proteins can be functionalized in a variety of chemical reactions without loss of particle integrity. In addition, Genetic Code Expansion (GCE) permits the introduction of non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs) into displayed peptides and proteins. The incorporation of ncAAs into phage libraries has led to the discovery of high-affinity binders with low nanomolar dissociation constant (K D) values that can potentially serve as inhibitors. This article reviews how bioconjugation and the incorporation of ncAAs during translation have expanded the chemistry of peptides and proteins displayed by M13 virions for a variety of purposes.

"Endothelial Antibody Factory" at the Blood Brain Barrier: Novel Approach to Therapy of Neurodegenerative Diseases

The failures of anti-β-amyloid immunotherapies suggested that the very low fraction of injected antibodies reaching the brain parenchyma due to the filtering effect of the BBB may be a reason for the lack of therapeutic effect. However, there is no treatment, as yet, for the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) despite substantial evidence existing of the involvement of TDP-43 protein in the evolution of ALS. To circumvent this filtering effect, we have developed a novel approach to facilitate the penetration of antibody fragments (Fabs) into the brain parenchyma. Leveraging the homing properties of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), we transfected, ex vivo, such cells with vectors encoding anti-β-amyloid and anti-TDP43 Fabs turning them into an “antibody fragment factory”. When injected these cells integrate into the BBB, where they secrete anti-TDP43 Fabs. The results showed the formation of tight junctions between the injected engineered EPCs and the unlabeled resident endothelial cells. When the EPCs were further modified to express the anti-TDP43 Fab, we could observe integration of these cells into the vasculature and the secretion of Fabs. Results confirm that production and secretion of Fabs at the BBB level leads to their migration to the brain parenchyma where they might exert a therapeutic effect.

Antibody-Based Formats to Target Glioblastoma: Overcoming Barriers to Protein Drug Delivery

Glioblastoma (GB) is recognized as the most aggressive form of primary brain cancer. Despite advances in treatment strategies that include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, the median survival time (∼15 months) of patients with GB has not significantly improved. The poor prognosis of GB is also associated with a very high chance of tumor recurrence (∼90%), and current treatment measures have failed to address the complications associated with this disease. However, targeted therapies enabled through antibody engineering have shown promise in countering GB when used in combination with conventional approaches. Here, we discuss the challenges in conventional as well as future GB therapeutics and highlight some of the known advantages of using targeted biologics to overcome these impediments. We also review a broad range of potential alternative routes that could be used clinically to administer anti-GB biologics to the brain through evasion of its natural barriers.

New Horizons in Structural Biology of Membrane Proteins: Experimental Evaluation of the Role of Conformational Dynamics and Intrinsic Flexibility

A plethora of membrane proteins are found along the cell surface and on the convoluted labyrinth of membranes surrounding organelles. Since the advent of various structural biology techniques, a sub-population of these proteins has become accessible to investigation at near-atomic resolutions. The predominant bona fide methods for structure solution, X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM, provide high resolution in three-dimensional space at the cost of neglecting protein motions through time. Though structures provide various rigid snapshots, only an amorphous mechanistic understanding can be inferred from interpolations between these different static states. In this review, we discuss various techniques that have been utilized in observing dynamic conformational intermediaries that remain elusive from rigid structures. More specifically we discuss the application of structural techniques such as NMR, cryo-EM and X-ray crystallography in studying protein dynamics along with complementation by conformational trapping by specific binders such as antibodies. We finally showcase the strength of various biophysical techniques including FRET, EPR and computational approaches using a multitude of succinct examples from GPCRs, transporters and ion channels.

Design of a Novel Fab-Like Antibody Fragment with Enhanced Stability and Affinity for Clinical use

With increasing interest in applying recombinant monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in human medicine, engineered mAb fragments with reduced size and improved stability are in demand to overcome current limitations in clinical use. Herein, a novel Fab-like antibody fragment generated via an in silico-based engineering approach where the CH1 and CL domains of Fab are replaced by the IgG1 CH3 domains is described. This construct, designated as FabCH3, maintains the natural N-terminus and C-terminus of IgG antibody, can be expressed at a high level in bacterial cells and, importantly, exhibits much higher stability and affinity than the parental Fab when tested in a mesothelin-specific Fab m912, as well as a vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA)-specific Fab Ranibizumab (in vivo). The high-resolution crystal structures of m912 FabCH3 and m912 Fab are determined, and the comparative analysis reveals more rigid structures in both constant domains and complementarity-determining regions of FabCH3, explaining its enhanced stability and affinity. Overall, the stabilized FabCH3 described in this report provides a versatile platform for engineering Fab-like antibody fragments with higher stability and antigen-binding affinity that can be used as a distinct class of antibody therapeutics.

Conjugation of a Blood Brain Barrier Peptide Shuttle to an Fc Domain for Brain Delivery of Therapeutic Biomolecules

The frequency of brain disease has increased significantly in the past years. After diagnosis, therapeutic options are usually limited, which demands the development of innovative therapeutic strategies. The use of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) is promising but highly limited by the existence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). To overcome the impermeability of this barrier, antibody fragments can be engineered and conjugated to BBB peptide shuttles (BBBpS), which are capable of brain penetration. Herein, we linked the highly efficient BBBpS, PepH3, to the IgG fragment crystallizable (Fc) domain using the streamlined expressed protein ligation (SEPL) method. With this strategy, we obtained an Fc-PepH3 scaffold that can carry different payloads. Fc-PepH3 was shown to be nontoxic, capable of crossing an in vitro cellular BBB model, and able to bind to the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn), which is responsible for antibody long half-life (t 1/2). Overall, we demonstrated the potential of Fc-PepH3 as a versatile platform readily adaptable to diverse drugs of therapeutic value to treat different brain conditions.

Pharmacokinetics of Monoclonal Antibody and Antibody Fragments in the Mouse Eye Following Systemic Administration

The ocular pharmacokinetics (PK) of antibody-based therapies are infrequently studied in mice due to the technical difficulties in working with the small murine eye. This study is the first of its kind to quantitatively measure the PK of variously sized proteins in the plasma, cornea/ICB, vitreous humor, retina, and posterior cup (including choroid) of the mouse and to evaluate the relationship between molecular weight (MW) and antibody biodistribution coefficient (BC) to the eye. Proteins analyzed include trastuzumab (150 kDa), trastuzumab-vc-MMAE (T-vc-MMAE, 155 kDa), F(ab)₂ (100 kDa), Fab (50 kDa), and scFv (27 kDa). As expected, ocular PK mirrored the systemic PK as plasma was the driving force for ocular exposure. For trastuzumab, T-vc-MMAE, F(ab)₂, Fab, and scFv, respectively, the BCs in the cornea/ICB were 0.610%, 0.475%, 1.74%, 3.39%, and 13.7%; the BCs in the vitreous humor were 0.0198%, 0.0427%, 0.0934%, 0.234%, and 5.56%; the BCs for the retina were 0.539%, 0.230%, 0.704%, 2.44%, and 20.4%; the BCs for the posterior cup were 0.557%, 0.650%, 1.47%, 4.06%, and 13.9%. The relationship between BC and MW was best characterized by a log–log regression in which BC decreased as MW increased, with every doubling in MW leading to a decrease in BC by a factor of 3.44 × , 6.76 × , 4.74 × , and 3.43 × in cornea/ICB, vitreous humor, retina, and posterior cup, respectively. In analyzing the disposition of protein therapeutics to the eye, these findings enhance our understanding of the potential for ocular toxicity of systemically administered protein therapeutics and may aid in the discovery of systemically administered protein therapeutics for ocular disorders.

Radioimmunotherapy in Oncology: Overview of the Last Decade Clinical Trials

Simple Summary

Monoclonal antibody-bearing radionuclides have been under clinical investigation over the last two decades for their use in theranostic (diagnostic and therapeutic) applications in cancer. However, despite the numerous trials that have been conducted, only two radioimmunotherapies (RIT) have been approved by the FDA for the targeted therapy of hematologic tumors expressing CD20 antigens. Moreover, RIT applications for solid cancers faced major issues—such as radiotoxicity due to low antibodies penetrance requiring substantial curative dose—where new discoveries concerning antibody engineering or radionuclides are trying to overcome. Here, we performed an overview of the last 11-year clinical trials involving RIT for solid and non-solid cancers conducted either with full antibodies or antibody fragments. We discussed the low-to-moderate efficiency of RIT compared to conventional therapies and described the last advances in clinic for antibodies carriers (F(ab′)₂, Fab′, ScFv). Finally, we discussed about the complexity of RIT as a therapy and depicted both the issues and the prospects of such a strategy.

Abstract

The specific irradiation of tumors with selective radiolabeled antibodies constitutes an attractive therapeutic approach. Consequent preclinical research has been conducted by both biologists to identify pertinent targets and to select corresponding antibodies (mAb) and by radiochemists to radiolabel mAbs. These numerous preclinical investigations have ascertained the therapeutic interest of radioimmunotherapy (RIT) protocols in mice models. Here, we summarize the clinical studies that have been performed the last decade, including clinical trials (phases I, II, and III), prospective and retrospective studies, and cases series. We thereby reported 92 clinical studies. Among them, 62 concern the treatment of hematological malignancies, and 30 concern solid tumors. For hematologic diseases, the analysis was complex due to the high discrepancy of therapeutic strategies (first-line therapy, consolidation, stem cell transplantation conditioning) as well as the high variety of malignancies that were treated. The clinical studies from the last decade failed to expand anti-CD20 RIT indications but confirmed that RIT using radiolabeled anti-CD20 remains a pertinent choice for patients with relapse follicular lymphomas. For solid tumors, the positive benefit of RIT is more mitigated, apart for few malignancies that can be treated locally. Clinical trials also demonstrated the potential of some antibody formats, such as F(ab′)₂, which has already been approved by the China State FDA under the trend name Licartin®. Despite disparate results, mAb fragments are an interesting prospect for the improvement of RIT efficiency as well as for pretargeted strategies that delay the injection of radioactive treatments from the mAb ones.

A comparative analysis of recombinant Fab and full-length antibody production in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Monoclonal antibodies are the leading class of biopharmaceuticals in terms of numbers approved for therapeutic purposes. Antigen-binding fragments (Fab) are also used as biotherapeutics and used widely in research applications. The dominant expression systems for full-length antibodies are mammalian cell-based, whereas for Fab molecules the preference has been an expression in bacterial systems. However, advances in CHO and downstream technologies make mammalian systems an equally viable option for small- and large-scale Fab production. Using a panel of full-length IgG antibodies and their corresponding Fab pair with different antigen specificities, we investigated the impact of the IgG and Fab molecule format on production from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and assessed the cellular capability to process and produce these formats. The full-length antibody format resulted in the recovery of fewer mini-pools posttransfection when compared to the corresponding Fab fragment format that could be interpreted as indicative of a greater overall burden on cells. Antibody-producing cell pools that did recover were subsequently able to achieve higher volumetric protein yields (mg/L) and specific productivity than the corresponding Fab pools. Importantly, when the actual molecules produced per cell of a given format was considered (as opposed to mass), CHO cells produced a greater number of Fab molecules per cell than obtained with the corresponding IgG, suggesting that cells were more efficient at making the smaller Fab molecule. Analysis of cell pools showed that gene copy number was not correlated to the subsequent protein production. The amount of mRNA correlated with secreted Fab production but not IgG, whereby posttranscriptional processes act to limit antibody production. In summary, we provide the first comparative description of how full-length IgG and Fab antibody formats impact on the outcomes of a cell line construction process and identify potential limitations in their production that could be targeted for engineering increases in the efficiency in the manufacture of these recombinant antibody formats.

Engineered mRNA and the Rise of Next-Generation Antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies are widely used as therapeutic agents in medicine. However, clinical-grade proteins require sophisticated technologies and are extremely expensive to produce, resulting in long lead times and high costs. The use of gene transfer methods for in vivo secretion of therapeutic antibodies could circumvent problems related to large-scale production and purification and offer additional benefits by achieving sustained concentrations of therapeutic antibodies, which is particularly relevant to short-lived antibody fragments and next-generation, Fc-free, multispecific antibodies. In recent years, the use of engineered mRNA-based gene delivery has significantly increased in different therapeutic areas because of the advantages it possesses over traditional gene delivery platforms. The application of synthetic mRNA will allow for the avoidance of manufacturing problems associated with recombinant proteins and could be instrumental in consolidating regulatory approvals for next-generation therapeutic antibodies.

A versatile ceramic capillary membrane reactor system for continuous enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis

As an alternative to classical batch processes, enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis can also be carried out continuously. To facilitate this, a continuous ceramic capillary membrane reactor system (CCCMRS) was developed which can be operated with various proteolytic enzymes immobilized on the porous ceramic capillary membranes. This system has several advantages over common batch processes regarding stability, reproducibility and controllability and can easily be adapted to optimal reaction conditions and individual preferences. Two exemplary applications utilizing the CCCMRS were carried out and investigated in long-term stability studies. In the first application the continuous enzymatic cleavage of human IgG into the antibody fragments Fab and Fc by immobilized papain was performed. A total volume of 22 mL of 1 mg mL-1 IgG-solution was enzymatically cleaved over a period of 33.3 h. The antibody cleavage products could be detected in an SEC-HPLC over the whole process time thus indicating long-term stability of the continuous hydrolysis process. The second application investigated the continuous digestion of pea and almond protein isolates by immobilized Alcalase resulting in the generation of a large variety of different peptides. This peptide fingerprint remains constant over a long period of time enabling fractionation and thus making the peptides accessible for further bioactivity studies in sufficient quantities. The constant peptide fingerprint could be shown in the RP-HPLC analysis for all 30 samples with a total volume of 29.7 mL collected over a period of 45 h.

A Two-Pore Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Model to Predict Subcutaneously Administered Different-Size Antibody/Antibody Fragments

Quantitative modeling of the subcutaneous absorption processes of protein therapeutics is challenging. Here we have proposed a "two-pore" PBPK model that is able to simultaneously characterize plasma PK of different-size protein therapeutics in mice. The skin compartment is evolved to mechanistically account for the absorption pathways through lymph and blood capillaries, as well as local degradation at the SC injection site. The model is developed using in-house plasma PK data generated following subcutaneous administration of 6 different-size protein therapeutics (13-150 kDa) in mice. The model was able to capture plasma PK of all molecules following intravenous and subcutaneous administration relatively well. From the observed plasma PK profiles, as well as from the model simulation result, several important PK descriptors were found to be dependent on protein size for FcRn nonbinding molecules. A positive correlation was found between T_max and protein size. A "U" shape relationship was found between C_max and protein size. Negative correlations were observed between bioavailability (F) and local degradation rate (k_deg,SC), and F and protein size. Pathway analysis of the model was conducted for the subcutaneous absorption process, and continuous relationships were established between the percentage of absorption through lymphatic and vascular pathways and protein size. This PBPK model could serve as a platform for the development of different-size protein therapeutics and will be scaled up to humans for translational studies in the future.

Nanobody Conjugates for Targeted Cancer Therapy and Imaging

Conventional antibody-based targeted cancer therapy is one of the most promising avenues of successful cancer treatment, with the potential to reduce toxic side effects to healthy cells surrounding tumor cells. However, the full potential of antibodies is severely limited due to their large size, low stability, slow clearance, and high immunogenicity. Alternatively, recently discovered nanobodies, which are the smallest naturally occurring antigen-binding format, have shown great potential for addressing these limitations. Bioconjugation of nanobodies to functional groups such as toxins, enzymes, radionucleotides, and fluorophores can improve the efficacy and potency of nanobodies, enhance their in vivo pharmacokinetics, and expand the range of potential applications. Herein, we review the superior characteristics of nanobodies in comparison to conventional antibodies and provide insight into recent developments in nanobody conjugates for targeted cancer therapy and imaging.

Application of Antibody Fragments Against Aβ With Emphasis on Combined Application With Nanoparticles in Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases and accumulating evidences suggest a key role of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide in the pathogenesis of AD. According to the amyloid cascade hypothesis, the imbalance of producing and clearing Aβ is the beginning of neurodegeneration and dementia. Consequently, immunotherapy becomes popular through using antibodies against Aβ. However, many studies of monoclonal antibodies were stopped because adverse effects appeared or there were no evident benefits observed. Some antibody fragments have many advantages over monoclonal antibodies, such as small sizes, lack of the crystallizable fraction (Fc) and so on. There are three main antibody fragments, including single chain variable fragments (scFvs), Fab fragments and single-domain antibody fragments. Nanoparticles can facilitate the entry of drug molecules across the blood-brain barrier, making them become excellent carriers. Various kinds of nanoparticles have been applied in the treatment of AD. The combination of nanoparticles and antibody fragments against amyloid-β can be used in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. In this review, we summarize the progress of antibody fragments against amyloid-β in AD, focusing on the combined application with nanoparticles in the diagnosis and treatment of AD.

Antibody Fragments as Tools for Elucidating Structure-Toxicity Relationships and for Diagnostic/Therapeutic Targeting of Neurotoxic Amyloid Oligomers

The accumulation of amyloid protein aggregates in tissues is the basis for the onset of diseases known as amyloidoses. Intriguingly, many amyloidoses impact the central nervous system (CNS) and usually are devastating diseases. It is increasingly apparent that neurotoxic soluble oligomers formed by amyloidogenic proteins are the primary molecular drivers of these diseases, making them lucrative diagnostic and therapeutic targets. One promising diagnostic/therapeutic strategy has been the development of antibody fragments against amyloid oligomers. Antibody fragments, such as fragment antigen-binding (Fab), scFv (single chain variable fragments), and VHH (heavy chain variable domain or single-domain antibodies) are an alternative to full-length IgGs as diagnostics and therapeutics for a variety of diseases, mainly because of their increased tissue penetration (lower MW compared to IgG), decreased inflammatory potential (lack of Fc domain), and facile production (low structural complexity). Furthermore, through the use of in vitro-based ligand selection, it has been possible to identify antibody fragments presenting marked conformational selectivity. In this review, we summarize significant reports on antibody fragments selective for oligomers associated with prevalent CNS amyloidoses. We discuss promising results obtained using antibody fragments as both diagnostic and therapeutic agents against these diseases. In addition, the use of antibody fragments, particularly scFv and VHH, in the isolation of unique oligomeric assemblies is discussed as a strategy to unravel conformational moieties responsible for neurotoxicity. We envision that advances in this field may lead to the development of novel oligomer-selective antibody fragments with superior selectivity and, hopefully, good clinical outcomes.

Solubility, Stability, and Avidity of Recombinant Antibody Fragments Expressed in Microorganisms

Solubility of recombinant proteins (i.e., the extent of soluble versus insoluble expression in heterogeneous hosts) is the first checkpoint criterion for determining recombinant protein quality. However, even soluble proteins often fail to represent functional activity because of the involvement of non-functional, misfolded, soluble aggregates, which compromise recombinant protein quality. Therefore, screening of solubility and folding competence is crucial for improving the quality of recombinant proteins, especially for therapeutic applications. The issue is often highlighted especially in bacterial recombinant hosts, since bacterial cytoplasm does not provide an optimal environment for the folding of target proteins of mammalian origin. Antibody fragments, such as single-chain variable fragment (scFv), single-chain antibody (scAb), and fragment antigen binding (Fab), have been utilized for numerous applications such as diagnostics, research reagents, or therapeutics. Antibody fragments can be efficiently expressed in microorganisms so that they offer several advantages for diagnostic applications such as low cost and high yield. However, scFv and scAb fragments have generally lower stability to thermal stress than full-length antibodies, necessitating a judicious combination of designer antibodies, and bacterial hosts harnessed with robust chaperone function. In this review, we discuss efforts on not only the production of antibodies or antibody fragments in microorganisms but also scFv stabilization via (i) directed evolution of variants with increased stability using display systems, (ii) stabilization of the interface between variable regions of heavy (V_H) and light (V_L) chains through the introduction of a non-native covalent bond between the two chains, (iii) rational engineering of V_H-V_L pair, based on the structure, and (iv) computational approaches. We also review recent advances in stability design, increase in avidity by multimerization, and maintaining the functional competence of chimeric proteins prompted by various types of chaperones.

Conformational Sensors and Domain Swapping Reveal Structural and Functional Differences between β-Arrestin Isoforms

Desensitization, signaling, and trafficking of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are critically regulated by multifunctional adaptor proteins, β-arrestins (βarrs). The two isoforms of βarrs (βarr1 and 2) share a high degree of sequence and structural similarity; still, however, they often mediate distinct functional outcomes in the context of GPCR signaling and regulation. A mechanistic basis for such a functional divergence of βarr isoforms is still lacking. By using a set of complementary approaches, including antibody-fragment-based conformational sensors, we discover structural differences between βarr1 and 2 upon their interaction with activated and phosphorylated receptors. Interestingly, domain-swapped chimeras of βarrs display robust complementation in functional assays, thereby linking the structural differences between receptor-bound βarr1 and 2 with their divergent functional outcomes. Our findings reveal important insights into the ability of βarr isoforms to drive distinct functional outcomes and underscore the importance of integrating this aspect in the current framework of biased agonism.

Imaging using radiolabelled targeted proteins: radioimmunodetection and beyond

The use of radiolabelled antibodies was proposed in 1970s for staging of malignant tumours. Intensive research established chemistry for radiolabelling of proteins and understanding of factors determining biodistribution and targeting properties. The use of radioimmunodetection for staging of cancer was not established as common practice due to approval and widespread use of [¹⁸F]-FDG, which provided a more general diagnostic use than antibodies or their fragments. Expanded application of antibody-based therapeutics renewed the interest in radiolabelled antibodies. RadioimmunoPET emerged as a powerful tool for evaluation of pharmacokinetics of and target engagement by biotherapeutics. In addition to monoclonal antibodies, new radiolabelled engineered proteins have recently appeared, offering high-contrast imaging of expression of therapeutic molecular targets in tumours shortly after injection. This creates preconditions for noninvasive determination of a target expression level and stratification of patients for targeted therapies. Radiolabelled proteins hold great promise to play an important role in development and implementation of personalised targeted treatment of malignant tumours. This article provides an overview of biodistribution and tumour-seeking features of major classes of targeting proteins currently utilized for molecular imaging. Such information might be useful for researchers entering the field of the protein-based radionuclide molecular imaging.

Gene Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using Adenoviral Vectors Delivering a Gene Encoding IL-17A-Neutralizing Antibody Fragments

High interleukin 17A (IL-17A) expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue promotes HCC development. This study explores a method to inhibit HCC growth by neutralizing IL-17A in the HCC microenvironment. A novel type 5 adenoviral vector (Ad5) that carries DNA sequences encoding specific neutralizing IL-17A recombinant antibody fragments was developed in this research. After locally injecting into tumor tissues, the Ad5 transduced into tumor cells. This leads to the expression of the anti-IL-17A recombinant antibody fragments in the HCC tissue and consequently to an inhibition of HCC growth by neutralizing IL-17A. The stability of the antibody fragments was optimized by different structures design. Stable HCC cell lines that secrete IL-17A continuously were constructed, which showed stronger invasion and migration ability than control HCC cell lines. In addition, the enhanced migration and invasion ability were partially reversed by applying the adenoviral vectors. These results suggest that IL-17A might promote HCC growth by enhancing the invasion and migration ability of hepatoma cells. The antibody fragments from Ad5 neutralized IL-17A locally, in turn inhibiting the growth of HCC tumors. In conclusion, the local administration of Ad5 vectors encoding IL-17A-neutralizing antibody fragments provides a new option for HCC immunotherapy.

Antibodies for the Treatment of Brain Metastases, a Dream or a Reality?

The incidence of brain metastases (BM) in cancer patients is increasing. After diagnosis, overall survival (OS) is poor, elicited by the lack of an effective treatment. Monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based therapy has achieved remarkable success in treating both hematologic and non-central-nervous system (CNS) tumors due to their inherent targeting specificity. However, the use of mAbs in the treatment of CNS tumors is restricted by the blood-brain barrier (BBB) that hinders the delivery of either small-molecules drugs (sMDs) or therapeutic proteins (TPs). To overcome this limitation, active research is focused on the development of strategies to deliver TPs and increase their concentration in the brain. Yet, their molecular weight and hydrophilic nature turn this task into a challenge. The use of BBB peptide shuttles is an elegant strategy. They explore either receptor-mediated transcytosis (RMT) or adsorptive-mediated transcytosis (AMT) to cross the BBB. The latter is preferable since it avoids enzymatic degradation, receptor saturation, and competition with natural receptor substrates, which reduces adverse events. Therefore, the combination of mAbs properties (e.g., selectivity and long half-life) with BBB peptide shuttles (e.g., BBB translocation and delivery into the brain) turns the therapeutic conjugate in a valid approach to safely overcome the BBB and efficiently eliminate metastatic brain cells.

Multimerization through Pegylation Improves Pharmacokinetic Properties of scFv Fragments of GD2-Specific Antibodies

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.

Preparation and preliminary bioevaluation studies of 68 Ga-NOTA-rituximab fragments as radioimmunoscintigraphic agents for non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Rituximab is used for the treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). This study focuses on development of ⁶⁸ Ga-labeled rituximab fragments, (⁶⁸ Ga-NOTA-F (ab')-rituximab and ⁶⁸ Ga-NOTA-F (ab')₂ -rituximab, as PET-imaging agents for NHL. Rituximab was digested with immobilized pepsin and papain to yield F (ab')₂ and Fab fragments respectively that were characterized by size exclusion HPLC (SE-HPLC) and SDS-PAGE. They were conjugated with p-SCN-Bn-NOTA, labeled with ⁶⁸ Ga and characterized by SE-HPLC. Intact rituximab was labeled with gallium-68 for comparison. Specificity of ⁶⁸ Ga-labeled immunoconjugates was ascertained by immunoreactivity and cell binding studies in Raji cells, while biodistribution studies were performed in normal Swiss mice. Gradient SDS-PAGE under nonreducing condition showed molecular weights of F (ab')₂ -rituximab and F (ab')-rituximab as approximately 100 and 40 Kd, respectively. Radiochemical purity (RCP) of ⁶⁸ Ga-NOTA-F (ab')₂ -rituximab and ⁶⁸ Ga-NOTA-F (ab')-rituximab were 98.2 ± 0.5% and 98.8 ± 0.2% respectively with retention times of 17.1 ± 0.1 min and 19.3 ± 0.1 min in SE-HPLC. ⁶⁸ Ga-labeled rituximab fragments were stable in saline and serum up to 2-hour post preparation and exhibited specificity to CD20 antigen. Immunoreactivity of ⁶⁸ Ga-labeled immunoconjugates was greater than 80%. Clearance of the fragmented radioimmunoconjugates was predominantly through renal route. Preliminary results from this study demonstrate the potential of ⁶⁸ Ga- NOTA-F (ab')₂ -rituximab and ⁶⁸ Ga-NOTA-F (ab')-rituximab as PET imaging agents for NHL.

Goliath: The Structure, Function, and Clinical Prospects of Antibody Fragments

Since the licensing of the first monoclonal antibody therapy in 1986, monoclonal antibodies have become the largest class of biopharmaceuticals with over 80 antibodies currently approved for a variety of disease indications. The development of smaller, antigen binding antibody fragments, derived from conventional antibodies or produced recombinantly, has been growing at a fast pace. Antibody fragments can be used on their own or linked to other molecules to generate numerous possibilities for bispecific, multi-specific, multimeric, or multifunctional molecules, and to achieve a variety of biological effects. They offer several advantages over full-length monoclonal antibodies, particularly a lower cost of goods, and because of their small size they can penetrate tissues, access challenging epitopes, and have potentially reduced immunogenicity. In this review, we will discuss the structure, production, and mechanism of action of EMA/FDA-approved fragments and of those in clinical and pre-clinical development. We will also discuss current topics of interest surrounding the potential use of antibody fragments for intracellular targeting and blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration.

ScFv Improvement Approaches

The most common recombinant antibody format is the single chain fragment variable (scFv) which it contains the complete antigen-binding domains of an intact antibody. ScFv fragments have found vast medical and non-medical applications. Several approaches have been employed to increase the affinity, avidity and structural stability related to these antibody fragments. Most approaches related to scFv improvement have been included in this review.

Near infrared imaging of epidermal growth factor receptor positive xenografts in mice with domain I/II specific antibody fragments

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a transmembrane cell surface receptor that is frequently overexpressed and/or mutated in many cancers. Therapies targeting EGFR have poor outcomes due to the lack of reliable diagnostic tests to monitor EGFR. Current in vitro EGFR diagnostic methods are invasive, requiring biopsies, which limits tumor sampling and availability. EGFR molecular imaging provides non-invasive whole-body images capable of detecting primary tumors and metastases, which can be used to diagnose and monitor response to therapy. Methods: We evaluated properties of two anti-EGFR fragments, 8708 and 8709, as molecular-targeted imaging probes. 8708 and 8709 are anti-EGFR antigen binding fragments (Fabs) that recognize domain I/II of EGFR, which is distinct from epitopes recognized by current anti-EGFR therapeutic antibodies. We used complementarity determining region sequences from 8708 and 8709 Fabs to generate an anti-EGFR IgG and (scFv)2 and scFv-Fc antibody fragments. We expressed, purified, and labeled the IgG and fragments with IRDye800CW and used them to image EGFR-positive and -negative xenografts in CD-1 nude mice. 8709 scFv-Fc was also tested for competitive binding with the therapeutic anti-EGFR antibody nimotuzumab and for quantifying ratios of EGFR and EGFRvIII deletion mutant. Results: IRDye800CW-labeled 8708 (scFv)2 and 8709 scFv-Fc imaging probes showed high levels of accumulation and good retention in EGFR-positive xenografts, with peak accumulation occurring at 24 and 48 hours post injection, respectively. IRDye680RD-labeled 8709 scFv-Fc did not compete with IRDye800CW-labeled nimotuzumab for EGFR binding as assayed by flow cytometry using an EGFR-positive cell line. IRDye680RD-labeled 8709 scFv-Fc and IRDye800CW-labeled nimotuzumab used in combination were able to determine the ratio of cells expressing EGFR and a deletion mutant EGFRvIII. Conclusion: IRDye800CW-labeled 8708 (scFv)2 and 8709 scFv-Fc had desirable binding affinities, clearance times, and tumor accumulation to be used for imaging in combination with current EGFR targeted therapies. This study highlights the potential for using 8708 (scFv)2 and 8709 scFv-Fc as EGFR diagnostic and therapy monitoring tools.

Antibody Fragment and Affibody ImmunoPET Imaging Agents: Radiolabelling Strategies and Applications

Antibodies have long been recognised as potent vectors for carrying diagnostic medical radionuclides, contrast agents and optical probes to diseased tissue for imaging. The area of ImmunoPET combines the use of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with antibodies to improve the diagnosis, staging and monitoring of diseases. Recent developments in antibody engineering and PET radiochemistry have led to a new wave of experimental ImmunoPET imaging agents that are based on a range of antibody fragments and affibodies. In contrast to full antibodies, engineered affibody proteins and antibody fragments such as minibodies, diabodies, single-chain variable region fragments (scFvs), and nanobodies are much smaller but retain the essential specificities and affinities of full antibodies in addition to more desirable pharmacokinetics for imaging. Herein, recent key developments in the PET radiolabelling strategies of antibody fragments and related affibody molecules are highlighted, along with the main PET imaging applications of overexpressed antigen-associated tumours and immune cells.

Evaluation of antibody fragment properties for near-infrared fluorescence imaging of HER3-positive cancer xenografts

In vivo imaging is influenced by the half-life, tissue penetration, biodistribution, and affinity of the imaging probe. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) is composed of discrete domains with known functions, providing a template for engineering antibody fragments with desired imaging properties. Here, we engineered antibody-based imaging probes, consisting of different combinations of antibody domains, labeled them with the near-infrared fluorescent dye IRDye800CW, and evaluated their in vivo imaging properties. Antibody-based imaging probes were based on an anti-HER3 antigen binding fragment (Fab) isolated using phage display.

Methods: We constructed six anti-HER3 antibody-based imaging probes: a single chain variable fragment (scFv), Fab, diabody, scFv-C_H3, scFv-Fc, and IgG. IRDye800CW-labeled, antibody-based probes were injected into nude mice bearing FaDu xenografts and their distribution to the xenograft, liver, and kidneys was evaluated.

Results: These imaging probes bound to recombinant HER3 and to the HER3-positive cell line, FaDu. Small antibody fragments with molecular weight <60 kDa (scFv, diabody, and Fab) accumulated rapidly in the xenograft (maximum accumulation between 2-4 h post injection (hpi)) and cleared primarily through the kidneys. scFv-C_H3 (80 kDa) had fast clearance and peaked in the xenograft between 2-3 hpi and cleared from xenograft in a rate comparable to Fab and diabody. IgG and scFv-Fc persisted in the xenografts for up to 72 hpi and distributed mainly to the xenograft and liver. The highest xenograft fluorescence signals were observed with IgG and scFv-Fc imaging probes and persisted for 2-3 days.

Conclusion: These results highlight the utility of using antibody fragments to optimize clearance, tumor labeling, and biodistribution properties for developing anti-HER3 probes for image-guided surgery or PET imaging.

Structures of Hepatitis B Virus Core- and e-Antigen Immune Complexes Suggest Multi-point Inhibition

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the leading cause of liver disease worldwide. While an adequate vaccine is available, current treatment options are limited, not highly effective, and associated with adverse effects, encouraging the development of alternative therapeutics. The HBV core gene encodes two different proteins: core, which forms the viral nucleocapsid, and pre-core, which serves as an immune modulator with multiple points of action. The two proteins mostly have the same sequence, although they differ at their N and C termini and in their dimeric arrangements. Previously, we engineered two human-framework antibody fragments (Fab/scFv) with nano- to picomolar affinities for both proteins. Here, by means of X-ray crystallography, analytical ultracentrifugation, and electron microscopy, we demonstrate that the antibodies have non-overlapping epitopes and effectively block biologically important assemblies of both proteins. These properties, together with the anticipated high tolerability and long half-lives of the antibodies, make them promising therapeutics.

Optimization and comparison of CD4-targeting lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles using different binding ligands

Monoclonal antibodies and peptides are conjugated to the surface of nanocarriers (NCs) for targeting purposes in numerous applications. However, targeting efficacy may vary with their specificity, affinity, or avidity when linked to NCs. The physicochemical properties of NCs may also affect targeting. We compared the targeting efficacy of the CD4 binding peptide BP4 and an anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody (CD4 mAb) and its fragments, when conjugated to lipid-coated poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid nanoparticles (LCNPs). Negatively charged LCNPs with cholesteryl butyrate in the lipid layer (cbLCNPs) dramatically reduced nonspecific binding, leading to higher targeting specificity, compared to neutral or positively charged LCNPs with DOTAP (dtLCNP). cbLCNPs surface conjugated with a CD4 antibody (CD4-cbLCNPs) or its fragments (fCD4-cbLCNPs), but not BP4, showed high binding in vitro to the human T cell line 174xCEM, and preferential binding to CD3+ CD14-CD8- cells from pigtail macaque peripheral blood mononuclear cells. CD4-cbLCNPs showed 10-fold higher binding specificity for CD4+ than CD8+ T cells, while fCD4-cbLCNPs demonstrated the highest binding level overall, but only three-fold higher binding specificity. This study demonstrates the importance of ζ-potential on NC targeting and indicates that CD4 mAb and its fragments are the best candidates for delivery of therapeutic agents to CD4+ T cells. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 1177-1188, 2018.

A strategy to identify linker-based modules for the allosteric regulation of antibody-antigen binding affinities of different scFvs

Antibody single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) are used in a variety of applications, such as for research, diagnosis and therapy. Essential for these applications is the extraordinary specificity, selectivity and affinity of antibody paratopes, which can also be used for efficient protein purification. However, this use is hampered by the high affinity for the protein to be purified because harsh elution conditions, which may impair folding, integrity or viability of the eluted biomaterials, are typically required. In this study, we developed a strategy to obtain structural elements that provide allosteric modulation of the affinities of different antibody scFvs for their antigen. To identify suitable allosteric modules, a complete set of cyclic permutations of calmodulin variants was generated and tested for modulation of the affinity when substituting the linker between VH and VL. Modulation of affinity induced by addition of different calmodulin-binding peptides at physiologic conditions was demonstrated for 5 of 6 tested scFvs of different specificities and antigens ranging from cell surface proteins to haptens. In addition, a variety of different modulator peptides were tested. Different structural solutions were found in respect of the optimal calmodulin permutation, the optimal peptide and the allosteric effect for scFvs binding to different antigen structures. Significantly, effective linker modules were identified for scFvs with both VH-VL and VL-VH architecture. The results suggest that this approach may offer a rapid, paratope-independent strategy to provide allosteric regulation of affinity for many other antibody scFvs.

Antibody or Antibody Fragments: Implications for Molecular Imaging and Targeted Therapy of Solid Tumors

The use of antibody-based therapeutics has proven very promising for clinical applications in cancer patients, with multiple examples of antibodies and antibody–drug conjugates successfully applied for the treatment of solid tumors and lymphomas. Given reported recurrence rates, improvements are clearly still necessary. A major factor limiting the efficacy of antibody-targeted cancer therapies may be the incomplete penetration of the antibody or antibody–drug conjugate into the tumor. Incomplete tumor penetration also affects the outcome of molecular imaging, when using such targeting agents. From the injection site until they arrive inside the tumor, targeting molecules are faced with several barriers that impact intratumoral distribution. The primary means of antibody transport inside tumors is based on diffusion. The diffusive penetration inside the tumor is influenced by both antibody properties, such as size and binding affinity, as well as tumor properties, such as microenvironment, vascularization, and targeted antigen availability. Engineering smaller antibody fragments has shown to improve the rate of tumor uptake and intratumoral distribution. However, it is often accompanied by more rapid clearance from the body and in several cases also by inherent destabilization and reduction of the binding affinity of the antibody. In this perspective, we discuss different cancer targeting approaches based on antibodies or their fragments. We carefully consider how their size and binding properties influence their intratumoral uptake and distribution, and how this may affect cancer imaging and therapy of solid tumors.

Human Anti-Lipopolysaccharid (LPS) antibodies against Legionella with high species specificity

Legionella are Gram-negative bacteria that are ubiquitously present in natural and man-made water reservoirs. When humans inhale aerosolized water contaminated with Legionella, alveolar macrophages can be infected, which may lead to a life-threatening pneumonia called Legionnaires' disease. Due to the universal distribution of Legionella in water and their potential threat to human health, the Legionella concentration in water for human use must be strictly monitored, which is difficult since the standard detection still relies on lengthy cultivation and analysis of bacterial morphology. In this study, an antibody against L. pneumophila has been generated from the naïve human HAL antibody libraries by phage-display for the first time. The panning was performed on whole bacterial cells in order to select antibodies that bind specifically to the cell surface of untreated Legionella. The bacterial cell wall component lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was identified as the target structure. Specific binding to the important pathogenic L. pneumophila strains Corby, Philadelphia-1 and Knoxville was observed, while no binding was detected to seven members of the families Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonadaceae or Clostridiaceae. Production of this antibody in the recombinant scFv-Fc format using either a murine or a human Fc part allowed the set-up of a sandwich-ELISA for detection of Legionella cells. The scFv-Fc construct proved to be very stable, even when stored for several weeks at elevated temperatures. A sensitivity limit of 4,000 cells was achieved. The scFv-Fc antibody pair was integrated on a biosensor, demonstrating the specific and fast detection of L. pneumophila on a portable device. With this system, 10,000 Legionella cells were detected within 35 min. Combined with a water filtration/concentration system, this antibody may be developed into a promising reagent for rapid on-site Legionella monitoring.

Antibody Engineering for Pursuing a Healthier Future

Since the development of antibody-production techniques, a number of immunoglobulins have been developed on a large scale using conventional methods. Hybridoma technology opened a new horizon in the production of antibodies against target antigens of infectious pathogens, malignant diseases including autoimmune disorders, and numerous potent toxins. However, these clinical humanized or chimeric murine antibodies have several limitations and complexities. Therefore, to overcome these difficulties, recent advances in genetic engineering techniques and phage display technique have allowed the production of highly specific recombinant antibodies. These engineered antibodies have been constructed in the hunt for novel therapeutic drugs equipped with enhanced immunoprotective abilities, such as engaging immune effector functions, effective development of fusion proteins, efficient tumor and tissue penetration, and high-affinity antibodies directed against conserved targets. Advanced antibody engineering techniques have extensive applications in the fields of immunology, biotechnology, diagnostics, and therapeutic medicines. However, there is limited knowledge regarding dynamic antibody development approaches. Therefore, this review extends beyond our understanding of conventional polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. Furthermore, recent advances in antibody engineering techniques together with antibody fragments, display technologies, immunomodulation, and broad applications of antibodies are discussed to enhance innovative antibody production in pursuit of a healthier future for humans.

Stainless steel surface functionalization for immobilization of antibody fragments for cardiovascular applications

Stainless steel 316 L material is commonly used for the production of coronary and peripheral vessel stents. Effective biofunctionalization is a key to improving the performance and safety of the stents after implantation. This paper reports the method for the immobilization of recombinant antibody fragments (scFv) on stainless steel 316 L to facilitate human endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) growth and thus improve cell viability of the implanted stents for cardiovascular applications. The modification of stent surface was conducted in three steps. First the stent surface was coated with titania based coating to increase the density of hydroxyl groups for successful silanization. Then silanization with 3 aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS) was performed to provide the surface with amine groups which presence was verified using FTIR, XPS, and fluorescence microscopy. The maximum density of amine groups (4.8*10(-5) mol/cm(2)) on the surface was reached after reaction taking place in ethanol for 1 h at 60 °C and 0.04M APTS. On such prepared surface the glycosylated scFv were subsequently successfully immobilized. The influence of oxidation of scFv glycan moieties and the temperature on scFv coating were investigated. The fluorescence and confocal microscopy study indicated that the densest and most uniformly coated surface with scFv was obtained at 37 °C after oxidation of glycan chain. The results demonstrate that the scFv cannot be efficiently immobilized without prior aminosilanization of the surface. The effect of the chemical modification on the cell viability of EPC line 55.1 (HucPEC-55.1) was performed indicating that the modifications to the 316 L stainless steel are non-toxic to EPCs.

Selection and Characterization of Single Chain Antibody Fragments Specific for Hsp90 as a Potential Cancer Targeting Molecule

Heat shock proteins play an essential role in facilitating malignant transformation and they have been recognized as important factors in human cancers. One of the key elements of the molecular chaperones machinery is Hsp90 and it has recently become a target for anticancer therapeutic approaches. The potential and importance of Hsp90-directed agents becomes apparent when one realizes that disruption of Hsp90 function may influence over 200 oncogenic client proteins. Here, we described the selection and characterization of Hsp90-specific antibody fragments from commercially available Tomlinson I and J phage display libraries. The affinities of Hsp90-binding scFv variants were measured using SPR method. Then, based on the best clone selected, we performed the affinity maturation procedure and obtained valuable Hsp90-specific clones. The selected binders were expressed and applied for immunostaining, ELISA and SPR analysis using model cancer cell lines. All performed experiments confirmed the ability of selected antibodies to interact with the Hsp90. Therefore, the presented Hsp90-specific scFv, might be a starting point for the development of a novel antibody-based strategy targeting cancer.

Immuno-PET of Murine T Cell Reconstitution Postadoptive Stem Cell Transplantation Using Anti-CD4 and Anti-CD8 Cys-Diabodies

The proliferation and trafficking of T lymphocytes in immune responses are crucial events in determining inflammatory responses. To study whole-body T lymphocyte dynamics noninvasively in vivo, we generated anti-CD4 and -CD8 cys-diabodies (cDbs) derived from the parental antibody hybridomas GK1.5 and 2.43, respectively, for (89)Zr-immuno-PET detection of helper and cytotoxic T cell populations.

METHODS

Anti-CD4 and -CD8 cDbs were engineered, produced via mammalian expression, purified using immobilized metal affinity chromatography, and characterized for T cell binding. The cDbs were site-specifically conjugated to maleimide-desferrioxamine for (89)Zr radiolabeling and subsequent small-animal PET/CT acquisition and ex vivo biodistribution in both wild-type mice and a model of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation.

RESULTS

Immuno-PET and biodistribution studies demonstrate targeting and visualization of CD4 and CD8 T cell populations in vivo in the spleen and lymph nodes of wild-type mice, with specificity confirmed through in vivo blocking and depletion studies. Subsequently, a murine model of HSC transplantation demonstrated successful in vivo detection of T cell repopulation at 2, 4, and 8 wk after HSC transplantation using the (89)Zr-radiolabeled anti-CD4 and -CD8 cDbs.

CONCLUSION

These newly developed anti-CD4 and -CD8 immuno-PET reagents represent a powerful resource to monitor T cell expansion, localization, and novel engraftment protocols. Future potential applications of T cell-targeted immuno-PET include monitoring immune cell subsets in response to immunotherapy, autoimmunity, and lymphoproliferative disorders, contributing overall to preclinical immune cell monitoring.

Passive Immunization

Whereas active immunity refers to the process of exposing the individual to an antigen to generate an adaptive immune response, passive immunity refers to the transfer of antibodies from one individual to another. Passive immunity provides immediate but short-lived protection, lasting several weeks up to 3 or 4 months. Passive immunity can occur naturally, when maternal antibodies are transferred to the fetus through the placenta or from breast milk to the gut of the infant. It can also be produced artificially, when antibody preparations derived from sera or secretions of immunized donors or, more recently, different antibody producing platforms are transferred via systemic or mucosal route to nonimmune individuals. Passive immunization has recently become an attractive approach because of the emergence of new and drug-resistant microorganisms, diseases that are unresponsive to drug therapy and individuals with an impaired immune system who are unable to respond to conventional vaccines. This chapter addresses the contributions of natural and artificial acquired passive immunity in understanding the concept of passive immunization. We will mainly focus on administration of antibodies for protection against various infectious agents entering through mucosal surfaces.

Production of recombinant antibodies using bacteriophages

Recombinant antibody fragments such as Fab, scFv, diabodies, triabodies, single domain antibodies and minibodies have recently emerged as potential alternatives to monoclonal antibodies, which can be engineered using phage display technology. These antibodies match the strengths of conventionally produced monoclonal antibodies and offer advantages for the development of immunodiagnostic kits and assays. These fragments not only retain the specificity of the whole monoclonal antibodies but also easy to express and produce in prokaryotic expression system. Further, these antibody fragments are genetically stable, less expensive, easy to modify in response to viral mutations and safer than monoclonal antibodies for use in diagnostic and therapeutic applications. This review describes the potential of antibody fragments generated using phage display and their use as diagnostic reagents.

Interactions of IgG1 CH2 and CH3 Domains with FcRn

Antibody fragments are emerging as promising biopharmaceuticals because of their relatively small-size and other unique properties. However, when compared to full-size antibodies, most of the current antibody fragments of VH or VL display greatly reduced half-lives. A promising approach to overcome this problem is through the development of novel antibody fragments based on IgG Fc region, which contributes to the long half-life of IgG through its unique pH-dependent association with the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn). The IgG Fc region comprises two CH2 and two CH3 domains. In this report, we present a comparative study of the FcRn binding capability of the CH2 and CH3 domains. The stability and aggregation resistance of these domains were also investigated and compared. We found that monomeric CH2 and CH3 domains exhibited the pH-dependent FcRn binding while the dimeric forms of CH2 and CH3 domains did not. Although all of these domains had high serum stability, they had aggregation tendencies as measured by dynamic light scattering. By providing a better understanding of the structure-activity relationship of the Fc fragment, these results guide further approaches to generate novel Fc-based small-size antibody fragments that possess pH-dependent FcRn binding capability, desired in vivo half-lives, and other favorable biophysical properties for their druggability.

Quantitative immunoPET of prostate cancer xenografts with 89Zr- and 124I-labeled anti-PSCA A11 minibody

Prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) is expressed on the cell surface in 83%-100% of local prostate cancers and 87%-100% of prostate cancer bone metastases. In this study, we sought to develop immunoPET agents using (124)I- and (89)Zr-labeled anti-PSCA A11 minibodies (scFv-CH3 dimer, 80 kDa) and evaluate their use for quantitative immunoPET imaging of prostate cancer.

METHODS

A11 anti-PSCA minibody was alternatively labeled with (124)I- or (89)Zr-desferrioxamine and injected into mice bearing either matched 22Rv1 and 22Rv1×PSCA or LAPC-9 xenografts. Small-animal PET data were obtained and quantitated with and without recovery coefficient-based partial-volume correction, and the results were compared with ex vivo biodistribution.

RESULTS

Rapid and specific localization to PSCA-positive tumors and high-contrast imaging were observed with both (124)I- and (89)Zr-labeled A11 anti-PSCA minibody. However, the differences in tumor uptake and background uptake of the radiotracers resulted in different levels of imaging contrast. The nonresidualizing (124)I-labeled minibody had lower tumor uptake (3.62 ± 1.18 percentage injected dose per gram [%ID/g] 22Rv1×PSCA, 3.63 ± 0.59 %ID/g LAPC-9) than the residualizing (89)Zr-labeled minibody (7.87 ± 0.52 %ID/g 22Rv1×PSCA, 9.33 ± 0.87 %ID/g LAPC-9, P < 0.0001 for each), but the (124)I-labeled minibody achieved higher imaging contrast because of lower nonspecific uptake and better tumor-to-soft-tissue ratios (22Rv1×PSCA:22Rv1 positive-to-negative tumor, 13.31 ± 5.59 (124)I-A11 and 4.87 ± 0.52 (89)Zr-A11, P = 0.02). Partial-volume correction was found to greatly improve the correspondence between small-animal PET and ex vivo quantification of tumor uptake for immunoPET imaging with both radionuclides.

CONCLUSION

Both (124)I- and (89)Zr-labeled A11 anti-PSCA minibody showed high-contrast imaging of PSCA expression in vivo. However, the (124)I-labeled A11 minibody was found to be the superior imaging agent because of lower nonspecific uptake and higher tumor-to-soft-tissue contrast. Partial-volume correction was found to be essential for robust quantification of immunoPET imaging with both (124)I- and (89)Zr-labeled A11 minibody.