NSF Award
0078548
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project aims to develop a rapid, sensitive and highly specific method for monoclonal antibody production and hybridoma cell line development by combining single<br/>cell gel microdrop (GMD) encapsulation technology, a novel protein capture format, and fluorescence activated cell sorting. Using insulin as a model antigen, Phase I studies demonstrated that individual cells,<br/>which comprised a 1% sub-population of a heterogeneous population, could be rapidly isolated based on both secretion level and antigen specificity of the secreted antibody. Phase II research will optimize the assay format by permitting simultaneous analysis of other antibody properties, including antibody isotype and blocking properties. Using newly fused hybridomas, Phase II research will isolate and enrich productive<br/>clones and compare results with conventional methods which require use of time consuming and labor intensive limiting dilution cloning.<br/><br/>Monoclonal antibodies are widely used as research, therapeutic, diagnostic, and imaging reagents, and are increasingly used in the emerging field of proteomics for discovering new drug targets and locating disease specific markers. The GMD method will reduce production time and costs, improve antibody quality and yield, and permit isolation of rare cells.
