Abstract: Monoclonal anti-CD98 antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof for delivering an agent to the brain of a subject in need thereof are described. Also described are conjugates and fusion constructs containing the anti-CD98 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof coupled to a therapeutic or diagnostic agent, such as a second antibody and antigen-binding fragment thereof, for treating or detecting a neurological disorder and/or delivering a therapeutic or diagnostic agent across the blood-brain barrier. Also described are nucleic acids encoding the antibodies, conjugates and fusion constructs and related recombinant host cells.

Abstract: Monoclonal anti-TfR antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof for delivering an agent to the brain of a subject in need thereof are described. Also described are conjugates and fusion constructs containing the anti-TfR antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof coupled to a therapeutic or diagnostic agent, such as a second antibody and antigen-binding fragment thereof, for treating or detecting a neurological disorder and/or delivering a therapeutic or diagnostic agent across the blood-brain barrier. Also described are nucleic acids encoding the antibodies, conjugates and fusion constructs and related recombinant host cells.

Abstract: VHH domains that bind to p1gR are described. The VHH domain may compete with IgA binding to p1gR, or alternatively, the VHH domain may compete with IgA binding to p1gR. The VHH domains may be coupled to therapeutic agents so as to facilitate delivery of the therapeutic agent to the mucosal layer via p1gR-mediated transcytosis. The therapeutic agent can be a small molecule, large molecule, or even an antibody.

Abstract: A method is described for delivering a single domain antibody or a therapeutic molecule from an apical surface of a polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR)-expressing cell to a basolateral surface of the pIgR-expressing cell comprising contacting the pIgR-expressing cell with the single domain antibody or the therapeutic molecule, wherein the single domain antibody binds to pIgR, and the therapeutic molecule comprises an agent and the single domain antibody. A method is also described for transporting such a therapeutic molecule to systemic circulation or lamina propria or gastrointestinal tract of a subject comprising administering the therapeutic molecule to the subject via oral delivery, buccal delivery, nasal delivery or inhalation delivery.

Abstract: A method for determining the presence and concentration of components in serum includes the steps of providing a serum sample, performing optical analysis of the serum sample using a spectrometer to provide spectral data based on optical properties of the serum sample, determining the concentrations of albumin, globulins and hemoglobin in the serum sample based on comparisons of the spectral data with reference spectra and outputting the determined concentrations of the albumin, globulins and hemoglobin. The invention can be used to accurately determine the concentration of albumin, globulins and hemoglobin in blood serum and can form the basis of initial cancer screening and to gauge a patient's response to treatment.