Redefining antibody cross-reactivity as an advantage for sensing and diagnostics

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Biosensing Technology

Background:

• Antibody specificity is traditionally prioritized, with cross-reactivity considered an undesirable trait leading to assay interference.
• Existing efforts focus on minimizing antibody cross-reactivity to enhance assay precision and reduce crosstalk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To re-evaluate the role of antibody cross-reactivity, proposing its strategic exploitation in biosensing.
• To explore the potential of using antibody cross-reactivity in array formats, analogous to chemolfactory arrays.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual framework based on chemometric and chemolfactory array principles.
• Analysis of how cross-reactive antibody arrays can distinguish complex samples.

Main Results:

• Cross-reactivity can be a significant strength when antibodies are employed in selective arrays.
• The ability of antibodies to bind multiple antigens can be leveraged for powerful, complex sample analysis.

Conclusions:

• Exploiting antibody cross-reactivity offers a unique opportunity to transform biosensing capabilities.
• This approach can lead to scalable, cost-effective, and adaptable tools for multiplexed detection, particularly in time-sensitive applications.