Enhanced activity of immobilized dimethylmaleic anhydride-protected poly- and monoclonal antibodies.

The effect of reversible protection of the free amino groups of poly- and monoclonal antibodies by dimethylmaleic anhydride on their binding activity following immobilization onto various carriers was studied. The treatment with dimethylmaleic anhydride resulted in a 1.6-1.8-fold increase in the activity of immobilized goat anti-mouse immunoglobulin antibody immobilized onto different epoxy containing carriers and a 3-10.7-fold increase in the activity of immobilized monoclonal antibodies specific for carboxypeptidase A. The increase in activity was most pronounced at low antigen to carrier loads and over a wide range of modifier to protein ratios. The application of reversible protection of antibodies may permit the development of highly active immobilized antibody preparations for use in immunoaffinity purification.