Unlocking CDR Diversity: How AbDrop™ Advances Antibody Development

Antibody discovery has undergone a transformation with advances in single B cell screening technologies. Biointron’s AbDrop™ platform leverages droplet-based microfluidics to access the full complement of antibody diversity, particularly within the complementary-determining regions (CDRs). CDRs are critical for the unique specificity and binding strength of an antibody, as these regions directly interact with target antigens.

The Role of CDR Diversity in Antibody Efficacy

The efficacy of any antibody largely depends on the diversity within its CDRs, particularly in CDR3 of the heavy chain, which is a major determinant of antigen binding. Broad CDR diversity enables the antibody to recognize a wider range of epitopes with high specificity, a quality that is especially valuable in therapeutic contexts where precision targeting is essential. 

AbDrop™ uses the natural diversity present within the immune system, tapping into millions of primary plasma B cells to capture a wide array of naturally mature CDR sequences. This approach results in antibodies that exhibit a variety of high-affinity, high-specificity binding profiles without requiring extensive optimization. 

Related: What are CDRs?

Accelerating the Development Timeline

• Rapid NGS Sequencing: Within a week, AbDrop™ sequences the immunoglobulin genes of selected B cells, enabling an in-depth analysis of the CDR diversity and allowing researchers to make swift, data-driven decisions about which candidates to prioritize. 

• Expedited Candidate Selection: Because CDRs are already optimized for binding, the candidate selection process is significantly faster. In contrast to traditional methods that may take months to yield viable candidates, AbDrop™ can deliver high-affinity antibodies in just two to three months. 

Related: Accelerating Antibody Drug Discovery with Fully Human Antibody Mouse HUGO-Ab® and High-Throughput Single B Cell Screening AbDrop™

Our High-throughput Fully Human Antibody Discovery Platform integrates Cyagen’s HUGO-Ab™ mice with Biointron’s AbDrop™ microdroplet-based single B cell screening. This powerful combination accelerates the discovery and development of fully human antibodies, reducing the time from target identification to therapeutic candidate to just three months. Learn more about the service here.