Screening for weak monoclonal antibodies in hybridoma technology.

As the interest in weak-affinity antibodies has been widened by their introduction to various analytical techniques such as HPLC, capillary electrophoresis and biosensors, there has been a need for new screening/monitoring methods. In this study, weak-affinity chromatography was adopted to screen/monitor directly for monoclonal antibodies in ascites. Monoclonal antibodies against a carbohydrate antigen (maltohexaose) were used to evaluate this approach. In short, malthohexaose was immobilized on an HPLC support in such a configuration to allow, during HPLC, retardation of weak monoclonal antibodies. Based on the retention, the affinity or the avidity, as determined by the presence of multiple binding of the monoclonal antibody towards antigen, can be estimated. In this way it is possible to select clones of hybridomas that produce desired weak monoclonal antibodies. Adjustments in temperature (10-20 degrees C) were used to moderate the retention and hence affinity of the weak monoclonal antibodies during chromatography.