Das Dhiman, McGrath John Scott, Moore John Hudson, Gardner Jason, Blom Daniël
Ampersand Biomedicines Inc., Southline Suite 3A, 135 William T. Morrissey Blvd., Boston, MA 02125, USA.
Biosensors (Basel). 2025 Jun 25;15(7):409. doi: 10.3390/bios15070409.
Droplet microfluidics has emerged as a transformative technology that can substantially increase the throughput of antibody "hit" discovery. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in this dynamic field, focusing primarily on the technological and methodological innovations that have enhanced the antibody discovery process. This investigation starts with the fundamental principles of droplet microfluidics, emphasizing its unique capabilities for precisely controlling and manipulating picoliter-volume droplets. This discussion extends to various assay types employed in droplet microfluidics, including binding assays, functional assays, Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) assays, internalization assays, and neutralization assays, each offering distinct advantages for antibody screening and characterization. A critical examination of methods to improve droplet encapsulation is presented, besides addressing challenges such as reducing the leakage of small molecules from droplets and explaining what a "hit" droplet looks like. Furthermore, we assess design considerations essential for implementing high-throughput fluorescence-activated droplet sorting (FADS) workstations and emphasize the need for automation. This review also delves into the evolving commercial landscape, identifying key market players and emerging industry trends. This review paper aims to catalyze further research and innovation, ultimately advancing the field towards more efficient and robust solutions for antibody identification and development.
微滴微流控技术已成为一项变革性技术，可大幅提高抗体“命中”发现的通量。本综述全面概述了这一动态领域的最新进展，主要聚焦于增强抗体发现过程的技术和方法创新。本研究从微滴微流控的基本原理入手，强调其精确控制和操纵皮升体积微滴的独特能力。讨论延伸至微滴微流控中使用的各种检测类型，包括结合检测、功能检测、荧光共振能量转移（FRET）检测、内化检测和中和检测，每种检测在抗体筛选和表征方面都具有独特优势。除了应对诸如减少小分子从微滴中泄漏等挑战以及解释“命中”微滴的样子外，还对改善微滴包裹的方法进行了批判性审视。此外，我们评估了实施高通量荧光激活微滴分选（FADS）工作站所需的设计考量，并强调了自动化的必要性。本综述还深入探讨了不断演变的商业格局，确定了关键市场参与者和新兴行业趋势。本综述文章旨在推动进一步的研究和创新，最终推动该领域朝着更高效、更强大的抗体鉴定和开发解决方案发展。
