Screening assays and methods

摘要

Screening assays and methods of performing such assays are provided. In certain examples, the assays and methods may be designed to determine whether or not two or more species can associate with each other. In some examples, the assays and methods may be used to determine if a known antigen binds to an unknown monoclonal antibody.

主权项

1. A method of screening a monoclonal antibody comprising:
(a) reversibly sealing a moldable slab to a substrate, said moldable slab comprising an array of microwells, each microwell having a side or diameter of less than 100 microns, wherein microwells of said array contain a single or a few antibody-producing cell(s) that secrete monoclonal antibodies in a volume of 10 nanoliters or less of fluid in said microwells; wherein the substrate's surface facing the microwells is modified such that it acts to retain such secreted monoclonal antibodies on the surface; (b) allowing said antibody-producing cell(s) to secrete said monoclonal antibodies in said volume such that monoclonal antibody secreted from the antibody-producing cell(s) in said volume is retained by the surface of the substrate sealed to the moldable slab; (c) removing the substrate from the moldable slab; and (d) exposing the retained monoclonal antibody to an antigen to test the retained monoclonal antibody for a desired binding specificity.