A rheo-optical method for the study of aggregated particles: application to the characterization of ABO blood group monoclonal antibodies

Abstract

The adhesive energy of monoclonal antibody induced agglutination can be assessed from the shear dissociation of agglutinates. Anti-A, anti-B, and anti-AB monoclonal antibodies agglutinate erythrocytes with variable strength, depending on the affinity of antibodies and on the antigenic density on the cell surface. The time required for an applied shear stress to dissociate cell agglutinates completely is depending on the strength of the agglutination reaction. The dissociation process under constant shear stress can be followed by measuring intensity of light backscattered by suspended particles. The obtained dissociation curves could be adjusted by an exponential expression governed by a parameter called characteristic time of dissociation. This parameter decreases with increasing antibody concentration. Integration of dissociation curves provided an approach of adhesive energy induced by monoclonal antibody.