Antibody Mimetics: Origin، Production and Application

Today, the approach of many biologists and biotechnologists is to replace naturally evolved molecules with man-made mimetic molecules, so that they can take advantage of the intrinsic potential of diversity in the challenge of overcoming the limitations of natural evolution and reach for alternative molecules. These molecules, commonly called mimetic molecules, are originally and structurally different from natural types, but can have very similar capacities to natural molecules. So far, the diverse applications of antibodies in research, diagnosis, and treatment have been extensively developed, and their advantages and disadvantages have been elucidated. Small size, elimination of post-translational modifications, increased affinity for ligand binding, increased temperature stability, activity in the wide pH range and lack of structural disulfide bond, etc. are among the basic considerations in introducing a set of antibody mimetics. Since the primary scaffolds of these molecules are known domains of human proteins, they are free of immunological reactions. The antibody mimetics introduced so far include DARPins, Avimers, Aptameric peptides or Affimers, Atrimers, Affibodies, Adnectins, Anticalins, Konitz domains, Knottins, and Fynomers, which were designed and manufactured for the diagnostic and in vivo imaging, molecular detection in biological samples, treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases, and drug delivery. In this article, first, the basis and applications of antibody mimetics are introduced, and then the origin, construction, and particular applications, along with their likely limitations and future prospects, will be discussed separately.