The benefits of llama antibodies compared to conventional IgG (most particularly low manufacturing cost and stability) have been well published in literature and this lends them to potential applications in the home and personal care industry. Llama antibody fragments have been fused to a cellulose binding domain moiety and used as a bifunctional protein to aid deposition of particles to cellulosic surfaces. The initial anticipated applications for this technology is in the delivery of actives to fabrics in laundry, however due to the ubiquitous nature of cellulose a number of other possible applications are envisaged. Efficacy of the protein was first demonstrated in a model particle system using coacervate particles coated with a dye-based antigen using ELISA, Biacore and particle deposition studies. Determined antibody affinities correlated with those in literature. A number of different fusion formats were investigated, and it was found that although addition of a fusion partner adversely affected antibody affinity, a single antibody/double cellulose binding domain format gave enhanced particle deposition, over a particle only control. The success of the hypothesis in the model system prompted study of a potential commercial equivalent. A particle consisting a melamine urea formaldehyde polymer was chosen. A protein from a range of possible candidates produced by a commercial manufacturer was selected and a purification process was developed that allowed production of protein on the gram scale, with potential for scale-up. The binding, bifunctionality and stability of the protein was then studied using gel densitometry and UV based assays. A substantial increase in particle depositions was demonstrated with a UV microscopy based assay. Use of the protein to enhance particle delivery to cellulosic surfaces showed promise in both systems studied when compared to particles alone, and has potential applications in product fields such as home and personal care, the agrochemical industry and paper processing.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:639514 |
| Date | January 2007 |
| Creators | Lewis, William John Kenneth |
| Publisher | University College London (University of London) |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1444972/ |
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