Nanobody Production Service

Nanobodies are single domain antibodies produced from camelids by immunization with a target antigen, similar to the process used in mice and rabbits for traditional antibody generation. However, because of the single heavy chain found in camelid antibodies, cDNAs can be generated from this single domain which can then be expressed recombinantly. This opens up a wide variety of applications that are not tenable with traditional IgG, IgM, or Fab antibodies. 

These unique molecules have many applications in research, diagnostics, and therapeutics, due to their small size, high stability, and specificity. Our nanobody production service provides immunization, screening, and cloning of nanobody cDNAs for research or commercial use.  If you’re interested in using nanobodies in your research, but lack the resources or expertise to produce them, nanobody production services can be an excellent option.

Why make a Nanobody?

Nanobodies, also known as single-domain antibodies, offer several advantages over traditional antibodies:

1. Small size: Nanobodies are only about one-tenth the size of conventional antibodies, which allows them to more easily penetrate tissues and bind to hidden epitopes. This makes them ideal for diagnostic and therapeutic applications, where large antibodies may be less effective.
2. Stability: Nanobodies are highly stable, resistant to heat and denaturing agents, and can withstand harsh conditions, such as low pH and high salt concentrations. This makes them ideal for use in harsh environments, such as the tumor microenvironment.
3. Specificity: Nanobodies can be designed to bind to specific targets with high affinity and specificity. This allows for more precise targeting of specific cell types, tissues, or proteins.
4. Easy to produce: Nanobodies can be produced in bacteria or yeast, allowing for low-cost and high-yield production. This makes them a more economical alternative to traditional antibodies.
5. Versatility: Nanobodies can be engineered to have various functionalities, such as blocking or enhancing protein function, or as imaging or diagnostic tools. This makes them versatile and useful for a wide range of applications.

The cloned camelid heavy chain that gives rise to a nanobody (VHH antibody) is approximately 15 kDa in size. This is far smaller than the 150 kDa IgG antibodies that are employed for most research. With the availability of the cDNA, this means nanobodies can be expressed or transduced in cells. This creates the possibility of tracking a protein of interest without having to create a GFP-fusion protein or even disrupt protein-protein interactions without the need for RNAi or knockouts.

The single domain structure of nanobodies also means they are much more stable across a range of conditions that would be restrictive to traditional antibodies. This opens up the possibility of using them as scaffolds or epitope mapping tools in protein crystallization, NMR, and CryoEM. These properties make them ideal for various applications, including diagnostics, therapeutics, and research tools.

Other Possible Applications:

• Add an affinity tag for pulldown and purification experiments
• Conjugate fluorophores for super-resolution microscopy
• Use them as inhibitors to bind active site clefts
• Targeted protein degradation similar to PROTACs

Our services

Immunization can proceed with a purified antigen provided by you. We will guide you through the entire process with regular reports submitted after each major step. The entire production time is typically 6-8 weeks from immunization.

Quotes will be generated according to service type and for specific project needs. We can produce nanobodies starting with full immunization or beginning from a known target sequence. Contact us using the form below to get started on your nanobody project.