title: Use of single chain antibody derivatives for targeted drug delivery.
abstract: Single chain antibodies (scFvs), which contain only the variable domains of full-length antibodies, are relatively small molecules that can be used for selective drug delivery. In this review, we display how scFv antibodies help improve the specificity and efficiency of drugs. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery using scFv-drug fusion peptides, siRNA delivery using scFv-conjugated nanoparticles, targeted delivery using scFv-viral peptide- fusion proteins, use of scFv in fusion with cell penetrating peptides for effective targeted drug delivery, scFv-mediated targeted delivery of inorganic nanoparticles, scFv-mediated increase of tumor killing activity of granulocytes, use of scFv for tumor imaging, site-directed conjugation of scFv molecules to drug carrier systems, use of scFv to relieve pain, use of scFv for increasing drug loading efficiency are among the topics that are discussed here.
authors.affiliation: Medical Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.|Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
authors.forename: Yaghoub
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Safdari
authors.affiliation: Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.|Biotechnology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Vahideh
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ahmadzadeh
authors.affiliation: Golestan Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (GRCGH), Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
authors.forename: Masoumeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khalili
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, School of Paramedicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein Zarei
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Jaliani
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Vahid
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zarei
authors.affiliation: Medical Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.|Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
authors.forename: Vahid
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Erfani-Moghadam
keywords: Immunoliposome; fusion peptide; nanoparticle; scFv; targeted drug delivery