The effect of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) on the heavy chain monoclonal antibody production from plant suspension cultures

A heavy chain monoclonal antibody (HC MAb) was produced by the suspension cultures of genetically modified tobacco cells. Though the HC MAb was secreted to the culture medium by the cells, it was unstable in plant cell media. The addition (0.75 g/L) of polyvinylpyrrolidone (MW 360,000) to the medium stabilized the extracellular HC MAb and increased its production 35 fold to 350 mu g/l.