Generation of affinity maturation libraries of PSMA targeting affibody molecules and selections to find improved binders

Sammanfattning: Prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a membrane protein expressed in both prostate cancer cells and in the neovasculature of many other solid tumors. It can act as a therapeutic target and as a target for an imaging agent for various cancers. Earlier, three different PSMA targeting affinity molecules, called Affibody molecules, were generated through phage selection. The aim of this thesis was to produce three corresponding affinity maturation libraries based on the three potential PSMA binders and select for improved binders through phage display. The affinity maturation libraries were produced, and two to four selection cycles were performed with yet insufficient enrichment. Therefore, more cycles must be performed in order to discover potential PSMA-binders with sufficient affinity.