Antibodies against small molecules.

Compounds with low molecular weight (haptens) are not usually immunogenic. Thus, an hapten should be conjugated with a carrier protein therefore immunizing an animal, in order to induce a strong immune response and in turn obtain large amount of antibodies. Suitable macromolecules are usually albumins, thyroglobulins, haemocyanins and polylysine. The production of specific antibodies against haptens is important both for assays of hormones and drugs in biological fluids or for therapeutic applications in tumour therapy. Approaches in choice of both carrier protein and conjugation methods will be described.