Antibody–Oligonucleotide Conjugates as Therapeutic, Imaging, and Detection Agents

Antibody–oligonucleotide conjugates (AOCs) are a novel class of synthetic chimeric biomolecules that has been continually gaining traction in different fields of modern biotechnology. This is mainly due to the unique combination of the properties of their two constituents, exceptional targeting abilities and antibody biodistribution profiles, in addition to an extensive scope of oligonucleotide functional and structural roles. Combining these two classes of biomolecules in one chimeric construct has therefore become an important milestone in the development of numerous biotechnological applications, including imaging (DNA-PAINT), detection (PLA, PEA), and therapeutics (targeted siRNA/antisense delivery). Numerous synthetic approaches have been developed to access AOCs ranging from stochastic chemical bioconjugation to site-specific conjugation with reactive handles, introduced into antibody sequences through protein engineering. This Review gives a general overview of the current status of AOC applications with a specific emphasis on the synthetic methods used for their preparation. The reported synthetic techniques are discussed in terms of their practical aspects and limitations. The importance of the development of novel methods for the facile generation of AOCs possessing a defined constitution is highlighted as a priority in AOC research to ensure the advance of their new applications.