 | ||
BCN, also known as bicyclo[6.1.0]nonyne, is a copper-free click chemistry probe that enables highly efficient and completely orthogonal bioconjugation to complex macromolecules including peptides, nucleic acids and proteins, including monoclonal antibodies. The most recent and powerful application of this technology has been in the field of antibody-drug conjugates which results in targeted cancer therapeutics that have an improved therapeutic index, meaning they are safer and more effective. Amongst its most notable features, BCN is ideally suited for aqueous bioconjugations due to its high reactivity with its azide counterpart combined with its high hydrophilicity, relative to all other metal-free click chemistry probes. See also "copper-free click chemistry". Commercial use of BCN is proprietary to Netherlands-based biotechnology company, Synaffix BV.