Scientists have developed a new class of microscopic antibody fragments capable of functioning inside human cells, overcoming a long-standing limitation in biomedical science.
New treatments for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and motor neuron disease (MND) may emerge from microscopic medicines developed by researchers at the University of Essex.
An international team used artificial intelligence to design tiny antibody fragments that can be produced inside human cells, where they attach to proteins linked to disease.
Traditional antibodies typically work only outside cells. In contrast, these redesigned versions, called intrabodies, are built to function within cells and target the proteins that drive neurodegenerative disorders.
Engineering Stable Intrabodies With AI
The study, funded by the MND Association and led by Dr. Caitlin O’Shea and Dr. Gareth Wright at the School of Life Sciences, identified electrical charge as a key factor that determines whether antibody fragments remain stable and functional inside cells.
Using this insight along with AI-based protein redesign, the team converted 672 antibodies into intrabodies capable of targeting proteins involved in disease.
Implications for Neurodegenerative Disease Treatment
Dr. Wright, who led the project, said the work could help address diseases that affect tens of millions of people worldwide.
“We’ve made intracellular antibodies that stick to proteins that cause neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, and motor neurone disease,” said Dr. Wright.
