Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses IZI-BB
Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses IZI-BB

Aptamer Development

Customized Aptamer Development

Fraunhofer IZI-BB provides the full range of modern SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment) methods.

© Fraunhofer IZI-BB
Automatisierung der Aptamerselektion mittels Magnetroboter. Für die SELEX gegen ein Protein werden magnetische, mit dem Target konjugierte Partikel mittels Magnetroboter sequentiell von Well zu Well transferiert. Nach der Inkubation mit der Startbibliothek erfolgen mehrere automatisierte Waschschritte zur Entfernung nicht- oder niedrigaffiner Sequenzen.

These SELEX strategies are tailored to each target and application and can be implemented using either fully or partially automated processes.

The institute thus provides efficient, fast and reliable solutions for a wide range of applications – from research to product development.

  • Efficient and targeted aptamer development tailored to specific targets and applications
  • A broad range of targets from small molecules and haptens to proteins, toxins, viruses, bacteria and eukaryotic cells
  • Target-specific, custom-designed single-stranded DNA and RNA libraries
  • Identification of high-affinity and specific aptamers through in-house sequencing, bioinformatics analysis and precise characterization as well as targeted optimization of aptamers based on detailed binding analyses

Our Offer

  • Target- and application-specific SELEX strategies, such as cell-based, capture-based and classical (bead-based) SELEX for small molecules, haptens, proteins, toxins, viruses, bacteria and eukaryotic cells.
  • Fully or partially automated SELEX procedures ensure high reproducibility and efficiency.
  • Parallel selection against different targets or different variants of a target facilitates the identification of promising hits.
  • Buffer conditions specifically tailored to the respective application or to real matrices increase the success rate and ensure direct transferability to subsequent assays or sensors.
  • Proprietary high-throughput sequencing combined with bioinformatics analysis enables early, data-driven identification of the most promising aptamer candidates and optimal control and monitoring of the SELEX process.
  • In-house characterization using modern analytical methods identifies binders with maximum affinity, specificity and optimal application relevance.

Aptamer Characterization Service

Fraunhofer IZI-BB offers a high-throughput analysis service for aptamers that supports both the identification of aptamer candidates and their functional validation.

Bead-, plate- and cell-based assays combined with state-of-the-art analytical methods—including gold-standard instruments such as surface plasmon resonance (SPR), isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and flow cytometry (FACS)—provide precise binding and kinetic data as well as stability and functional profiles required for the validation and prioritization of aptamer candidates.

  • Reliable Quality Assurance: Validation of aptamer functionality
  • Time Savings: High sample throughput for rapid results
  • Flexibility: Custom selection of desired characterization methods
  • State-of-the-Art Instrumentation: Use of the latest technologies for precise data
  • IP Protection: All results and rights remain with the customer

Range of Services

  • Sequencing of individual clones or enriched nucleic acid pools (specializing in short nucleic acids < 100 nucleotides)
  • Analysis of the diversity of nucleic acid pools (DANA)
  • High-throughput screening of binding constants using a bead-based plate assay
  • Affinity and interaction analyses using electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), flow cytometry (FACS) and fluorescence-based aptamer binding assay (FLAA)
  • Determination of binding constants and kinetics using surface plasmon resonance (SPR)
  • Determination of binding constants using microscale thermophoresis (MST) or isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC)
  • Analysis of aptamer binding epitopes for the precise determination of target binding sites