title: Single-domain antibodies for biomedical applications.
abstract: Single-domain antibodies are the smallest antigen-binding units of antibodies, consisting either only of one variable domain or one engineered constant domain that solely facilitates target binding. This class of antibody derivatives comprises naturally occurring variable domains derived from camelids and sharks as well as engineered human variable or constant antibody domains of the heavy or light chain. Because of their high affinity and specificity as well as stability, small size and benefit of multiple re-formatting opportunities, those molecules emerged as promising candidates for biomedical applications and some of these entities have already proven to be successful in clinical development.
authors.affiliation: a Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies , Merck-Serono, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt , Germany .
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krah
authors.affiliation: a Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies , Merck-Serono, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt , Germany .
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schröter
authors.affiliation: b Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt , Darmstadt , Germany , and.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zielonka
authors.affiliation: c Department Drug Design and Optimization , Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Saarland University , Saarbrücken , Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Empting
authors.affiliation: b Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt , Darmstadt , Germany , and.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Valldorf
authors.affiliation: b Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt , Darmstadt , Germany , and.
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kolmar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002162:Camelus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D012754:Sharks / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D057127:Single-Chain Antibodies / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D057127:Single-Chain Antibodies
keywords: Antibody engineering; IgNAR; VHH; antibody fragment; heavy chain antibody; single chain binding domain