Reinventing Aptamer Science: The Neomer Platform
In 2022, NeoVentures Biotechnology revolutionized aptamer science by introducing reproducibility, paving the way for the next generation of aptamers. Using our neomer platform, we reduced the number of random nucleotides while preserving optimal structural diversity. This innovation addressed the shortcomings of the SELEX approach, which has struggled to achieve commercial success in diagnostics. SELEX relies on counter-selection to ensure specificity, but this method proves mathematically inadequate. It eliminates aptamers that bind strongly to both the desired target and a counter target. However, it fails to prioritize those that bind strongly to the desired target but only weakly to a counter target.
Mimicking Immune Tolerance with the Neomer Approach
The reproducible neomer approach enables us to apply the same selection library to the desired target and the counter target in separate replications. This method mimics the immune system by incorporating an in silico strategy for achieving immune tolerance. It allows us to identify aptamers with high enrichment from the naïve library on the desired target while avoiding enrichment on the counter target. Since introducing this concept, we have continuously enhanced the platform, laying the groundwork for the next generation of commercially successful aptamers.
Evolving Aptamer Science: Learning from the Immune System
The immune system, refined over millions of years, continues to offer valuable insights. The next advancement in aptamer science involves replicating the two-stage process of antibody development. In the first stage, an antibody from the naïve repertoire is identified for its ability to bind to a foreign antigen without interacting with host proteins. The second stage relies on hypermutation, primarily achieved by shuffling amino acid motifs, to enhance binding affinity. At NeoVentures, we have developed methods that successfully mimic this critical second stage.
Advancing Structural Analysis for Aptamer Design
By using a reproducible aptamer library, we can predict the structures of all sequences within the naïve library. This shifts the analysis of aptamer enrichment during selection from the sequence level to the structural level. We have mapped the structural space needed to interpret selection results, allowing us to leverage next-generation sequencing data to identify the structural elements being selected. This insight guides truncation with scientific precision, and we are actively advancing these capabilities to further mimic antibody production through an in silico approach. As a result, NeoVentures is driving the creation of even better aptamers.
Learn More About NeoVentures’ Innovation
The future will be realized through a combination of respect for what nature has achieved and harnessing our incredible computing power. Learn more about innovations in aptamer science for the improvement of healthcare with our neomer platform and in silico option for aptamer development.
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