Monoclonal Antibodies

Question 1

What are monoclonal antibodies?

Answer 1

Identical antibodies made from the same B-cell/plasma cell

Question 2

How are monoclonal antibodies used in targeting medication?

Answer 2

• Monoclonal antibodies used to deliver drugs
• All cells have specific antigens on their surface
• Monoclonal antibodies can be made to bind to any target cell
• Attach the drug to the specific antibodies which will then form an antigen-antibody complex with the target cells antigens
• Drug and antibody will only bind to target cells

Question 3

How are monoclonal antibodies used in medical diagnosis?

Answer 3

• Monoclonal antibodies fixed to a plate
• Sample e.g. blood plasma added
• if sample contains the complimentary antigen and antibody-antigen complex will form and the antigens will bind to the antibody
• Rinsed to remove unbound antigens
• The same monoclonal antibody is added with an enzyme/colour marker
• New antibody will also be able to bind to the antigen if it was present in the sample
• Sample rinsed to remove unbound antibodies and enzymes
• Observing will give a positive/negative. Either a colour change or if an enzyme was used a substrate will need to be added to identify whether or not it was catalysed