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Functions of Therapeutic VHHs

As one of the novel antibody-based therapeutic agents, V_HHs display several advantages when compared to conventional antibodies. Firstly, as the smallest antigen-binding units of antibodies, V_HHs exhibit similar affinities as compared to full-sized antibodies. Due to their long, protruding, and highly variable CDR3 section, V_HHs can access epitopes normally hidden for conventional antibodies. Secondly, V_HHs are readily expressed in and purified from different host systems, including E. coli, yeast, plant, and mammalian cells. Thirdly, they have exhibited high solubility and thermal stability, high refolding capacity, and good in vivo tissue penetration. Moreover, V_HHs can be engineered into various formats by fusion with other proteins or peptides, thereby tailoring their utility for certain therapeutic applications. The above advantages make them ideally suited for various therapeutic applications.