Aptamers are oligonucleotide molecules, selected from large libraries to bind a specific target.
Aptamers can be used as an antibody alternative in a variety of therapeutic, diagnostic, and target-binding applications. These short single-stranded DNA or RNA oligonucleotide molecules are flexible, so capable of folding to:
- wrap around a small molecule target
- fit into clefts and gaps within the surface of much larger target molecules
This flexible nature of aptamers, to fold into or around the complex surfaces of a target molecule, means that aptamers can be selected to a wide target range, including targets that are traditionally difficult for other affinity reagents.
The ability of aptamers to act as antibody mimetics means that aptamers can be substituted for antibodies in a wide variety of applications, such as therapeutic targeting, biosensors, and affinity chromatography. Aptamers can also be readily conjugated to gold nanoparticles or quantum dots as a basis for point-of-care diagnostics.
| Feature | Monoclonal antibody | Protein scaffold affinity reagents | Aptamer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target class | Protein, peptides etc. | Protein, peptides, cellular proteins | Protein, peptides, cells, tissues, small molecules |
| Toxic or poorly immunogenic targets | No | Yes | Yes |
| Controllable binding and release conditions | No | Yes | Yes |
| Isolation process | In vivo | In vitro | In vitro |
| Scaffold | mAbs | Various protein scaffolds in use | No fixed scaffold |
| Production | Hybridoma culture | Hybridoma/bacterial culture | Solid phase synthesis |
| Storage | Hybridoma | Clone | Sequence ID |
| Supply | Liquid, cold-chain | Liquid, cold-chain | Dry, room temperature |
Aptamers offer significant experimental and production benefits over alternative affinity reagents
Our next-generation aptamer discovery processes are engineered to overcome many of the traditional problems associated with antibodies and other protein affinity reagents. We offer a viable alternative that can function as therapeutics, delivery vehicles, in diagnostics, and across many research applications.
Why work with Aptamer Group?
Our extensive experience with aptamers led to the development of Optimer® binders. Optimer® binders are next-generation aptamers, that have been optimised according to the target, application, and assay environment, and manufacturability characteristics of the molecule to ensure optimal performance and commercialisation.
We have a success rate of over 70% in identifying functional aptamers with high target affinity and selectivity.
We start with the end in mind: The specific end-use application and performance requirements of the Optimer® are integrated into our discovery and development processes, resulting in a truly customised solution. These Optimer® binders are further developed through our high-throughput processes to deliver high-performing, next-generation aptamers with the best manufacturability profile for simple downstream integration.
