Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are laboratory-produced molecules that are designed to mimic the immune system’s ability to target and neutralize specific substances, such as pathogens or abnormal cells. They are called “monoclonal” because they are derived from a single clone of cells, typically hybridoma cells created by fusing antibody-producing B cells with immortalized myeloma cells. This fusion results in cells that continuously produce identical antibodies, each with a precise and uniform binding specificity for a particular antigen.
Monoclonal antibodies have applications in medicine, research, and biotechnology. In research, they serve as valuable tools for studying the structure and function of proteins, identifying specific molecules in biological samples, and manipulating cellular processes. Monoclonal antibodies are also employed in diagnostics, where they can detect the presence of specific antigens or markers indicative of disease. Their specificity, reproducibility, and ability to be produced in large quantities make them valuable components of modern biomedicine.