Nanobody: a promising toolkit for molecular imaging and disease therapy

• Main Authors: Guangfa Bao, Ming Tang, Jun Zhao, Xiaohua Zhu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SpringerOpen 2021-01-01
• Series: EJNMMI Research
• Subjects: Nanobody; Molecular imaging; Cancer; Inflammation; Therapy
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13550-021-00750-5

Abstract Nanobodies are the recombinant variable domains of heavy-chain-only antibodies, with many unique properties such as small size, excellent solubility, superior stability, quick clearance from blood, and deep tissue penetration. As a result, nanobodies have become a promising tool for the diagnosis and therapy of diseases. As imaging tracers, nanobodies allow an early acquisition of high-quality images, provide a comprehensive evaluation of the disease, and subsequently enable a personalized precision therapy. As therapeutic agents, nanobodies enable a targeted therapy by lesion-specific delivery of drugs and effector domains, thereby improving the specificity and efficacy of the therapy. Up to date, a wide variety of nanobodies have been developed for a broad range of molecular targets and have played a significant role in patients with a broad spectrum of diseases. In this review, we aim to outline the current state-of-the-art research on the nanobodies for medical applications and then discuss the challenges and strategies for their further clinical translation.