abstract
- Monoliths are considered the fourth generation of chromatographic supports, and they consist of a single piece of highly interconnected network of channels, distinguishing them from other chromatographic supports. The advantages of these supports have been exploited to separate or immobilize biomolecules including antibodies. Antibodies are highly specialized molecules able to bind with high specificity and affinity to a wide variety of molecules via antigen-antibody interaction, which are the base of affinity chromatography. This precise interaction enables development of antibody-based therapeutic agents for diagnosis and treatment of diseases. In this context, it is necessary to explore novel chromatographic supports, including monoliths, for the analysis and purification of antibodies. The aim of this chapter is to present the current state of the art, recent advances in the purification and immobilization processes, applications in diagnosis and treatment of several diseases, and future trends of antibody-based monolith chromatography.