A Self‐Assembled Protein Platform for Plug‐and‐Play Customization of Multivalent Artificial Antibodies and Antibody‐Drug Conjugates

Y Yuzhe Chen Y Yunchuan Huang (Division of Liver Surgery and NHC Key Lab of Transplant Engineering and Immunology Institutes for Systems Genetics Frontiers Science Center for Disease‐Related Molecular Network West China Hospital Sichuan University Chengdu 610041 China) S Shisheng Wang (Division of Liver Surgery and NHC Key Lab of Transplant Engineering and Immunology Institutes for Systems Genetics Frontiers Science Center for Disease‐Related Molecular Network West China Hospital Sichuan University Chengdu 610041 China) X Xinyuan Wang H Hongyu Lu J Jie Chen J Jing Li Z Zhuo Chen Z Zhao Li T Tianshan She (Division of Liver Surgery and NHC Key Lab of Transplant Engineering and Immunology Institutes for Systems Genetics Frontiers Science Center for Disease‐Related Molecular Network West China Hospital Sichuan University Chengdu 610041 China) Y Youmei Jin (Proteomics‐Metabolomics Platform, Core facilities West China Hospital Sichuan University Chengdu 610041 China) Y Yuanping Gao (Proteomics‐Metabolomics Platform, Core facilities West China Hospital Sichuan University Chengdu 610041 China) J Jie Zhang L Lijun Wang W Wenjuan Zeng (Division of Liver Surgery and NHC Key Lab of Transplant Engineering and Immunology Institutes for Systems Genetics Frontiers Science Center for Disease‐Related Molecular Network West China Hospital Sichuan University Chengdu 610041 China) H Hong Zhu (School of Life and Health Technology) Z Ze Tao X Xiaofeng Lu H Hao Yang

Abstract

AbstractModular assembly of multivalent therapeutics with precise modulation of pharmacokinetic and pharmacological properties remains a critical challenge in drug development. Here, we present ATPlug, a self‐assembling protein platform that integrates three crucial functional modules: a trimerization domain to enhance avidity, a SpyCatcher module for efficient conjugation, and an albumin‐binding domain to optimize pharmacokinetics and tissue selectivity. This rational design facilitates the modular assembly of multivalent artificial antibodies and antibody‐drug conjugates (ADCs), demonstrating remarkable versatility through the successful incorporation of diverse therapeutic modules targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD‐L1), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The trivalent constructs exhibited up to 30‐fold enhancement in target binding avidity and extended plasma half‐life via endogenous albumin hitchhiking. Notably, the ATPlug‐customized modular ADCs achieved binding affinities of 1.8 nM for EGFR and exhibited selective cytotoxicity toward EGFR‐overexpressing tumor cells, resulting in potent tumor suppression efficacy. This plug‐and‐play strategy provides a framework for next‐generation therapeutics combining customized multivalency with multidrug synergies.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 64, Issue 40
Published September 26, 2025
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (19)

Y

Yuzhe Chen

Y

Yunchuan Huang

Division of Liver Surgery and NHC Key Lab of Transplant Engineering and Immunology Institutes for Systems Genetics Frontiers Science Center for Disease‐Related Molecular Network West China Hospital Sichuan University Chengdu 610041 China

S

Shisheng Wang

Division of Liver Surgery and NHC Key Lab of Transplant Engineering and Immunology Institutes for Systems Genetics Frontiers Science Center for Disease‐Related Molecular Network West China Hospital Sichuan University Chengdu 610041 China

X

Xinyuan Wang

H

Hongyu Lu

J

Jie Chen

J

Jing Li

Z

Zhuo Chen

Z

Zhao Li

T

Tianshan She

Division of Liver Surgery and NHC Key Lab of Transplant Engineering and Immunology Institutes for Systems Genetics Frontiers Science Center for Disease‐Related Molecular Network West China Hospital Sichuan University Chengdu 610041 China

Y

Youmei Jin

Proteomics‐Metabolomics Platform, Core facilities West China Hospital Sichuan University Chengdu 610041 China

Y

Yuanping Gao

Proteomics‐Metabolomics Platform, Core facilities West China Hospital Sichuan University Chengdu 610041 China

J

Jie Zhang

L

Lijun Wang

W

Wenjuan Zeng

Division of Liver Surgery and NHC Key Lab of Transplant Engineering and Immunology Institutes for Systems Genetics Frontiers Science Center for Disease‐Related Molecular Network West China Hospital Sichuan University Chengdu 610041 China

H

Hong Zhu

School of Life and Health Technology

Z

Ze Tao

X

Xiaofeng Lu

H

Hao Yang