nanobodyn.
/ˈnanə(ʊ)ˌbɒdi/, U.S. /ˈnænoʊˌbɑdi/, /ˈnænəˌbɑdi/ 1. Physics. An object with nanoscale dimensions, such as a nanotube or nanofibre. rare.
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1994 Jrnl. Crystal Growth 135 157 This has provided new information about the mechanisms by which nanobodies (nanotubes and nanoparticles) and pyrolytic carbon are deposited.
2010 Laser Physics 20 32/1 Such an interaction may lead to a modification of the spontaneous emission rate of an atom near nanobodies, such as dielectric nanofibers, nanospheres and nanodisks.
2. Immunology. The smallest functional antigen-binding fragment of a special type of antibody found in camels and llamas, which can be modified and cloned for use as a therapeutic, diagnostic, or experimental tool in humans and other species.
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2004 V. Cortez-Retamozo et al. in Cancer Res. 64 2853/2 Because the variable domain of the heavy-chain antibodies is the smallest functional antigen-binding fragment with a molecular mass of only 15 kDa, we refer to this entity as nanobody.
2005 Sci. Amer. (U.K. ed.) Aug. 67/1 It is a minimal staff with a simply stated mission: find the tiniest sliver of protein that will do the job of a full-size antibody, then turn it into..the first of a whole new class of ‘nanobody’ drugs against cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, perhaps even Alzheimer's disease.
2020 MailOnline (Nexis) 22 Dec. Studies have shown that llama nanobodies, made by the animals' immune systems, are far more effective than their human equivalents at preventing illness and infection from Covid-19.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, June 2022).
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n.1994