[06.01.2026]  The Center of Medical Biotechnology (ZMB) at the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE) is featured in a recent article in the renowned journal Nature Methods. In the technology feature “What nanobodies can do for you,” science journalist Vivien Marx highlights the rapid development of so-called nanobodies—particularly small antibodies that open up new possibilities in basic research, diagnostics, and cancer therapy. Researchers at the UDE are portrayed as key players in this field.

Nanobodies originate from the immune system of camelids such as llamas and alpacas. They are significantly smaller than conventional antibodies, particularly stable, and genetically easy to produce. This makes them ideal as modular tools in cell biology, structural biology, and medicine. Their compact structure allows them to reach binding sites on proteins that are inaccessible to classical antibodies—a decisive advantage for precise analyses and targeted interventions in cellular processes. These properties and applications are described in detail in the Nature Methods article. 

Special focus is placed on the work of Prof. Dr. Shirley Knauer and Dr. Mike Blüggel at the Center of Medical Biotechnology (ZMB) at the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE). Their team is developing nanobodies as innovative tools to specifically bind, visualize, or even break down key cancer proteins such as survivin and the protease Taspase 1. The aim is to make disease-relevant signaling pathways in living cells controllable and enable new therapeutic strategies. The researchers are combining nanobodies with modern approaches to targeted protein degradation (e.g., PROTAC concepts) to selectively eliminate oncogenic factors.

“We use nanobodies not only to make proteins visible, but also to actively control them,” explains Shirley Knauer in the article. The small antibodies can be coupled with fluorophores, light-sensitive switches, or degradation mechanisms, enabling them to specifically alter the function of a target protein. This precision opens up new avenues for analyzing signaling networks in cancer cells and developing tailored therapeutic approaches.

The recognition in Nature Methods underscores the international visibility of the ZMB in the field of biomedical nanotechnology and translational cancer research. At the same time, it shows how interdisciplinary approaches ranging from molecular biology to structural biology and data-driven methods interact at the UDE to develop innovative tools for the medicine of tomorrow.

Read the article

Article:
Nature Methods:  "What nanobodies can do for you"

Contact:
Prof. Dr. Shirley Knauer
Dr. Mike Blüggel

Molecular Biology II

University of Duisburg-Essen
Center of Medical Biotechnology
E-Mail: shirley.knauer@uni-due.de