| ent"> | | | | 2. Chemical purification tools |
| Antibodies form the most fundamental unit of the | | | | 3. Chemical sensors |
| human immune system. They are proteins that | | | | 4. Explosive sensors |
| fight against foreign agents such as bacteria, | | | | 5. Chemical synthesis pathway control and |
| viruses and fungi. Vaccines cause the production | | | | modulation |
| of antibodies against specific diseases in the body. | | | | 6. Bioremediation devices |
| Antisera are prepared by inoculating animals with | | | | 7. Antibody chip technology |
| certain antigens. When this is done, the animal | | | | 8. Pre-vaccination against new diseases |
| produces antibodies against these antigens. The | | | | New applications in several other industries are |
| antibody secretion is collected as antisera. | | | | also possible. In addition to the development of |
| Antibodies and antiserum form the basis of the | | | | immunotherapeutic and immunodiagnostic industry, |
| immunodiagnostics and immunotherapeutic | | | | stabilized antibodies can give rise to business |
| industry. | | | | opportunities in non-medical fields also. The |
| However, it has not been possible to develop | | | | potential of antibodies has not been used |
| antibodies very extensively because of their | | | | completely because of the stability issues |
| stability issues. Antibodies lose their function if not | | | | associated with it. They are only moderately |
| handled carefully and gently. They are stable only | | | | stable and lose their function if structural changes |
| in controlled environments with cold temperature. | | | | take place. Thus, protein stabilization is important. |
| Due to this it has not been possible to use | | | | Scientists are researching ways of stabilizing the |
| antibodies for non-medical research. Since | | | | amino acids that make up the antibodies. They |
| antibodies are made of proteins, antibody | | | | have been able to achieve antibodies that are |
| stabilization basically involves aiming for protein | | | | 100,000 times more stable than the normal |
| stability. | | | | antibodies. If better results are achieved it will |
| Stabilized antibodies can have potential applications | | | | become possible to use antibodies for other |
| in the field of: | | | | applications as well such as environmental |
| 1. Forensic analysis | | | | remediation, biosensors and diagnostic reagents. |