Nano-enhanced immune system

This article describes a new technique that enhances the production efficiency of antibodies. Antibodies are a special type of protein, produced by plasma cells, and a vital component of the body?s immune system. A molecular target (called an antigen) is detected by antibodies with great specificity, causing the two to bind. The antigen is often a microbe or infected cell targeted for destruction during an immune system response. Antibodies are rather large, containing 2 heavy polypeptide chains and 2 light polypeptide chains, on the order of 150 kilodaltons (kDa, a measure of molecular weight). Nanobodies [2] are engineered and constructed proteins, which are much smaller, but act in the same precise manner as an antibody. At an average size of 15 kDa, ten times smaller than a regular antibody, nanobodies [2] demonstrate potential for use in diagnosing diseases in areas where normal sized antibodies are not effective. Prior techniques of creating nanobodies [2] that match the required molecular target (antigen) have been inefficient, limiting the viability of nanobodies [2] to replace a human?s own antibodies[2].