Nanobodies for advanced research
Nanobodies are also referred to as single domain antibodies, or VHH single domain antibodies. They are unique antibody fragments derived from camelid heavy-chain-only antibodies. These single domain antibodies have a small molecular weight (~15 kDa), about one-tenth the size of conventional antibodies, which enables superior tissue penetration, stability, and access to hidden antigen sites.
Our single domain antibodies and VHH single domain antibodies offer exceptional specificity and versatility, making them indispensable tools for your research.
Why use nanobodies (VHH single domain antibodies)?
- Smaller & more stable: Single domain antibodies maintain binding affinity even under demanding experimental conditions, offering superior stability and performance compared to conventional antibodies.
- Highly specific: Due to the structure of nanobodies, they target conformational and epitopes inaccessible to larger antibodies.
- Versatile applications: Ideal for Immunofluorescence, ELISA, Flow Cytometry, Western Blot, Surface Plasmon Resonance and Radioimmunoassay (RIA).
- Recombinant production: Ensures consistent quality and batch-to-batch reproducibility.
Nanobodies for epitope tags: GFP, mCherry and V5
Nanobodies raised against epitope tags can provide researchers with compact, high-affinity tools for detecting and isolating tagged proteins in various experimental systems. Unlike traditional antibodies, nanobodies are smaller, more stable, and ideal for high-resolution imaging, immunoprecipitation, and live-cell applications.
Anti-GFP nanobody (STJN000447)
Anti-GFP nanobody binds green fluorescent protein (GFP) with exceptional specificity and affinity. It’s widely used in live-cell imaging, co-localisation studies, and protein tracking due to its ability to access tightly packed cellular environments.
Anti-mCherry nanobody (STJN000495)
mCherry nanobody binds specifically to the mCherry fluorescent protein. Its small size and high specificity allow it to reach confined cellular regions, supporting live-cell imaging, protein co-localization, and tracking the movement of proteins tagged with mCherry. A dependable choice for dynamic imaging.
Anti-V5-tag-strain W3 nanobody (STJN000597)
V5 nanobody is a versatile tool for working proteins conjugated with the V5 protein tag. It provides specific detection, purification tool for monitoring proteins with the v5 protein tag. With its exceptional affinity and small size, this nanobody is ideal for various applications, including ELISA and immunofluorescence.
Assessing VHH antibody development workflows
Anti-VHH nanobody [cAb-Lys2] is a specialised reagent designed for the characterisation and validation of VHH-type nanobodies, which are derived from camelid heavy-chain-only antibodies. It plays a key role in detecting VHH nanobody expression in engineered cells or fusion constructs, and is widely used to analyse nanobody surface display in platforms.
Additionally, cAb-Lys2 serves as a valuable isotype control in flow cytometry or immunoassays involving VHH-based reagents. This nanobody also supports quality control workflows by confirming successful expression and purification of recombinant VHH nanobodies to quantify nanobody library. Rather than targeting a specific antigen, cAb-Lys2 is a versatile tool for streamlining nanobody development research workflows.
Featured Nanobody products
| Target | Product (Clone) | SKU | Applications | Reactivity | Host |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EGFR/ERBB1/HER1 | Anti-EGFR/ERBB1/HER1 nanobody [SAA1213] | STJN000067 | ELISA / FC / SPR | Human | Alpaca |
| Vimentin (VIM) | Anti-VIM/Vimentin nanobody [SAA1226] | STJN000124 | ELISA / IF / SPR / WB | Human | Alpaca |
| CRMP1 (DPYSL1) | Anti-CRMP1 nanobody [SAA1228] | STJN000269 | ELISA / IP / WB | Human | Alpaca |
| TP53 (p53) | Anti-TP53/p53 nanobody [SAA1165] | STJN000100 | ELISA / IP | Human | Alpaca |
| PTH1R | Anti-PTH1R nanobody [SAA1275] | STJN000255 | ELISA / RIA | Human | Alpaca |
| CD7 | Anti-CD7 nanobody [SAA1260] | STJN000127 | ELISA / FC | Human | Alpaca |
| CLEC9A (CD370) | Anti-CD370/CLEC9A nanobody [SAA1331] | STJN000327 | ELISA / FC | Human | Alpaca |
| TUFM | Anti-TUFM nanobody [SAA1227] | STJN000231 | ELISA / IP / WB | Human | Alpaca |
| SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) | Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S Protein nanobody [SAA1022] | STJN000367 | ELISA | SARS-CoV-2 | Alpaca |
Immunology & Checkpoints
Detecting immune system proteins — Nanobodies provide powerful tools for monitoring immune checkpoints, complement activation, and CD markers, enabling deeper insight into autoimmune disease, infection, and immunotherapy mechanisms.
| Target | Application | Notes | Browse |
|---|---|---|---|
| CTLA-4 | Checkpoint studies | Often Fc fusion for avidity | CTLA-4 nanobodies |
| CD40LG (CD154) | Co-stimulation assays | Ligand modulating B cell help & signaling | CD40LG nanobody |
| C5 (Complement) | Complement pathway assays | MAC formation studies | C5 nanobody |
| CD123 (IL3RA) | Leukemia/DC profiling | Cytokine receptor subunit | CD123 nanobody |
| PD-1 / PD-L1 | Binding/neutralisation | Use species-matched pairs | PD-1/PD-L1 nanobodies |
| CD7 / CLEC9A | DC/T cell profiling | Flow-friendly VHH | CLEC9A nanobody |
Oncology Targets
Receptors and signalling markers frequently profiled in cancer biology.
| Target | Assay | Notes | Browse |
|---|---|---|---|
| EGFR / HER2 | Binding/IF | Glycosylation may affect binding | EGFR/HER2 nanobodies |
| AKT1 | WB/IP | PI3K/AKT pathway readouts | AKT1 nanobodies |
| p53 (TP53) | IP/ELISA | DNA damage response | p53 nanobodies |
Apoptosis Regulation
VHH tools to monitor and modulate intrinsic/extrinsic apoptosis — ideal for live imaging, WB, IP, and pathway dissection.
| Target | Use / Axis | Notes | Browse |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAX | Intrinsic pathway | Mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization | BAX nanobody |
| BAX | Intrinsic pathway | Mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization | BLC2 nanobody |
| Caspase-3 (cleaved) | Execution-phase readout | Pair with PARP cleavage | Caspase-3 nanobodies |
| Cytochrome c (CYCS) | Mitochondrial release | IF/FC to quantify release dynamics | Cytochrome C nanobodies |
Cell–Cell Communication Nanobodies
Nanobodies against adhesion molecules and immune checkpoint proteins are powerful tools for dissecting intercellular signaling, migration, and tissue organization in development, inflammation, and cancer.
| Target | Axis | Notes | Browse |
|---|---|---|---|
| VCAM1 (CD106) | Leukocyte trafficking | Endothelial adhesion | VCAM1 nanobodies |
| Nectin-2 (CD112) | Immune synapse | Ig-like adhesion protein | Nectin-2 nanobodies |
| CD47 | Immune evasion | “Don’t eat me” signal | CD47 nanobodies |
| Notch1 / DLL4 | Notch signaling | Receptor–ligand mapping on membranes | Notch/DLL nanobodies |
Nanobodies Studying Transport
Nanobodies enable precise visualization and perturbation of membrane transport pathways — from ion and metal handling to monocarboxylate uptake — helping decode nutrient import, toxin export, and epithelial barrier function.
| Target | Process | Notes | Browse |
|---|---|---|---|
| CFTR (ABCC7) | Cl⁻/HCO₃⁻ transport | Epithelial fluid homeostasis | CFTR nanobody |
| ATP7B | Copper efflux | P-type ATPase | ATP7B nanobody |
| SLC5A8 (SMCT1) | Monocarboxylate uptake | Na+-coupled transporter | SLC5A8 nanobody |
| CDH17 (Cadherin-17) | Adhesion/transport physiology | Intestine-enriched | CDH17 nanobody |
Nanobodies for Metabolism of Proteins
Protein metabolism spans synthesis, folding, trafficking, and degradation. Nanobodies help visualize, quantify, and perturb proteostasis pathways to reveal how dysregulation drives disease.
| Target | Pathway | Notes | Browse |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADAM10 | Ectodomain shedding | Sheddase regulating receptor processing | ADAM10 nanobody |
| ADAM17 | Cytokine/receptor processing | TNF & EGFR ligand shedding | ADAM17 nanobody |
| Albumin (ALB/HSA) | Carrier/PK studies | Transport & pharmacokinetics | Albumin nanobodies |
| CCT5 (TRiC) | Folding/chaperones | Proteostasis quality control | CCT5 nanobody |
Elucidating Metabolic Pathways with Nanobodies
Nanobodies provide versatile tools to dissect metabolic regulation and cellular energy balance.
| Target | Pathway | Notes | Browse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adiponectin | Hormonal regulation | Glucose & lipid metabolism | Adiponectin nanobody |
| Catalase | Antioxidant defense | Mitigates oxidative stress | Catalase nanobody |
Nanobodies for Signal Transduction Pathways
Signal transduction pathways govern how cells sense and respond to external stimuli.
| Target | Pathway | Notes | Browse |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADRB2 (β₂-AR) | GPCR | Stabilization & conformational assays | ADRB2 nanobody |
| A2AR (ADORA2A) | GPCR | Neuromodulation & immunoregulation | A2AR nanobody |
| AKT1 | PI3K/AKT | Central kinase in pathway | AKT1 nanobodies |
| ERK1/2 (MAPK3/1) | MAPK | Total & phospho-ERK for activation | ERK nanobodies |
| AKT1/2 | PI3K/AKT | Pair with p-AKT (Ser473) | AKT nanobodies |
| Beta-catenin (CTNNB1) | Wnt | Membrane ↔ nucleus dynamics | Beta-catenin nanobodies |
Neuroscience Targets
Nanobodies power neuroscience by enabling live-cell and super-resolution imaging, intrabody perturbation, and biosensing. Their small size reaches synapses, ion channels, GPCRs, tau and amyloid—advancing target validation, modeling, and therapeutics.
| Target | Use | Notes | Browse |
|---|---|---|---|
| APP (Amyloid precursor) | Pathways in AD models | Pair with tau/α-syn markers | APP nanobody |
| 5-HT3A (HTR3A) | GPCR studies | Conformation-sensitive assays | 5-HT3A nanobody |
| ASIC1 | Ion channel biology | pH-dependent gating | ASIC1 nanobody |
| GFP/mCherry binders | Live-cell reporters | Boost fluorescent protein signal | GFP/mCherry nanobodies |
| Tau (MAPT) / α-Synuclein (SNCA) | Neurodegeneration | Oligomer-selective reagents | SNCA nanobody |
| NeuN (RBFOX3) / GFAP | Neuronal vs astrocyte identity | Phenotyping brain sections | GFAP nanobody |
Conjugations & Formats
Choose direct labels for one-step detection or build modular assays with biotin/Fc fusions. If using unconjugated VHH, detect with anti-VHH secondary.
| Type | Examples | Use-case | Browse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluorophores | FITC, Alexa Fluor, Atto, BV dyes | Direct IF/FC; minimal linkage error | Conjugated VHH |
| Anti-VHH detection | Anti-VHH secondary (e.g., NabFab) | Detect unconjugated nanobodies | Anti-VHH secondaries |
| Enzyme labels | HRP, AP | WB/ELISA detection | Not currently available |
| Biotin/Avi-tag | Site-specific biotin | SPR/BLI; streptavidin capture | Not currently available |
| Fc fusions | Human IgG1 Fc | Extend half-life; bivalency | Not currently available |
| Beads (Nano-traps) | VHH-agarose/magnetic | Rapid IP/pull-down | Not currently available |
What are Nanobodies?
Nanobodies (VHH) are single antigen-binding domains from camelid heavy-chain antibodies. They retain full binding specificity with a fraction of the size, enabling access to sterically hindered epitopes and superior tissue penetration.
| Property | Typical spec | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular weight | ~12–15 kDa | Fits crowded environments; rapid diffusion |
| Format | VHH (± fusions) | Engineer to dimers, bispecifics or Fc fusions |
| Stability | High thermal/chemical stability | Robust in fixation, detergents, pH shifts |
| Production | Recombinant | Batch-to-batch consistency; defined sequence |
Advantages & Specs
When assay performance relies on penetration, epitope access or precise stoichiometry, VHH can outperform conventional IgG.
| Advantage | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Epitope access | Reaches cryptic/conformational epitopes | Useful on GPCRs, ion channels, crowded complexes |
| Imaging performance | Lower linkage error vs IgG (smaller probe) | Better for super-resolution & co-localisation |
| Engineering | Easy fusions (enzymes, dyes, tags, Fc) | Build bivalent/bispecific or reporter fusions |
| Recombinant QC | Defined sequence & lot-specific COAs | Improves reproducibility across studies |
Validation & QC
Recombinant production enables tight quality control. Look for the attributes below on each datasheet/COA.
| Attribute | Typical info | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Affinity (KD) | Low nM–pM for many VHH | Correlates with sensitivity/retention |
| Specificity | Peptide/antigen competition; cross-reactivity panel | Reduces off-target signal |
| Epitope | Linear vs conformational | Guides fixation/denaturation choices |
| Conjugate/format | Dye/HRP/biotin/Fc/beads | One-step detection vs modular capture |
| Storage | Lyophilised or −20 to −80 °C aliquots | Preserves activity; avoid freeze–thaw |
Bioprocess: CHO HCP Detection
VHH reagents for sensitive monitoring of residual host-cell proteins and affinity capture.
| Target | Use | Notes | Browse |
|---|---|---|---|
| β2-Microglobulin (B2M) | ELISA, process analytics | High stability for harsh buffers | B2M VHH |
| Generic HCP panels | Multi-analyte monitoring | Custom capture pairs | Not currently available |
Nanobody Applications by Technique
Pick the right buffer/fixation and detection approach for each method. Some nanobodies are available pre-conjugated otherwise we recommend detection with anti-VHH secondary.
| Technique | Recommended approach | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Immunofluorescence (IF) | Direct dye-conjugated VHH or anti-VHH secondary | Minimal linkage error; great in dense structures |
| Super-resolution (STED/SR) | Small VHH + bright, photostable dyes | Improves localization precision |
| Immunohistochemistry (IHC) | Optimise retrieval; VHH can penetrate fixed tissue | Test antigen retrieval vs epitope stability |
| Western Blot (WB) | VHH primaries or anti-tag VHH (e.g., anti-GFP) | Detect with anti-VHH-HRP if unconjugated |
| Flow Cytometry (FC) | Fluorophore-conjugated VHH | Great for dim antigens; low steric hindrance |
| Immunoprecipitation (IP) | VHH on beads ("nano-traps") | Fast IP with low background |
| SPR/BLI | Avi-biotin/Fc-fusion VHH | Oriented capture; regeneration-friendly |
Antibody vs Nanobody (Quick Compare)
| Feature | Conventional IgG | VHH Nanobody |
|---|---|---|
| Size | ~150 kDa | ~15 kDa |
| Penetration | Moderate | Excellent (dense tissues/complexes) |
| Stability | Sensitive to conditions | High thermal/chemical stability |
| Epitope access | Limited in crowded regions | Accesses cryptic sites |
| Engineering | More complex | Simple fusions, multimerisation |
For Research Use Only — not for diagnostic procedures.
Nanobody FAQs
Quick answers to common questions.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How do I detect an unconjugated nanobody? | Use an anti-VHH secondary (e.g., anti-alpaca VHH) matched to your assay (HRP for WB/ELISA; fluor for IF/FC). We also offer labelled cAb-Lys2 reagents for control/compensation. |
| Are VHH compatible with fixation? | Yes — they are generally more tolerant to fixation and detergents than IgG. For IHC, balance antigen retrieval with epitope integrity. |
| Do nanobodies work in live cells? | Yes — express as intrabodies or deliver conjugated VHH. Titrate expression to avoid artefacts; consider photostable dyes for long time-lapsing. |
Need help picking a nanobody or building a panel?
Tell us the technique (IF/IHC/WB/FC/IP), species, tags or targets, and instrument. We’ll suggest clones/conjugates and share lot-specific QC.
For Research Use Only - All products are intended for research purposes and are not for use in diagnostic procedures