Fine Tuning Antibody Conjugation Methods using SNAP-tag Technology

Anticancer Agents Med Chem. 2017;17(10):1434-1440. doi: 10.2174/1871520617666170213123737.

Abstract

Background: Targeted imaging and therapy (theranostics) is a promising approach for the simultaneous improvement of cancer diagnosis, prognosis and management. Therapeutic and imaging reagents are coupled to tumor-targeting molecules such as antibodies, providing a basis for truly personalized medicine. However, the development of antibody-drug conjugates with acceptable pharmaceutical properties is a complex process and several parameters must be optimized, such as the controlled conjugation method and the drug-to-antibody ratio.

Objective: The major aim of this work is to address fundamental key challenges for the development of versatile technology platform for generating homogenous immunotheranostic reagent.

Method: We conjugated the theranostics reagent IRDye700dx to a recombinant antibody fusion protein containing a self-labeling protein (SNAP-tag) which provides a unique reaction site.

Results: The resulting conjugate was suitable for the imaging of cancer cells expressing the epidermal growth factor receptor and demonstrated potent phototherapeutic and imaging activities against them.

Conclusion: Here, we describe a simple, rapid and robust site-directed labeling method that can be used to generate homogeneous immunoconjugate with defined pharmacological properties.

Keywords: EGFR; IRDye700; SNAP-tag technology; Theranostics; antibody drug conjugate; photodynamic therapy; site-directed labeling method.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies / chemistry
  • Antibodies / therapeutic use*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • ErbB Receptors / analysis
  • ErbB Receptors / biosynthesis
  • Humans
  • Indoles / chemistry
  • Indoles / therapeutic use
  • Molecular Structure
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Organosilicon Compounds / chemistry
  • Organosilicon Compounds / therapeutic use
  • Photochemotherapy
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Theranostic Nanomedicine*

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • IRDye700DX N-hydroxysuccinimide ester
  • Indoles
  • Organosilicon Compounds
  • EGFR protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors