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Updated: Apr 27, 2026

A Flow Cytometry-Based Cell Surface Protein Binding Assay for Assessing Selectivity and Specificity of an Anticancer Aptamer
Published on: September 13, 2022
Improved ligand binding by antibody-aptamer pincers
1Department of Chemistry and Research Institute for Basic Sciences, Kyung Hee University , 1 Hoegi-dong Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 131-701, South Korea.
We developed antibody-aptamer pincers (AAPs) to enhance binding affinity for targets like thrombin and HER2. This novel system improves molecular targeting and shows potential for cancer drug delivery systems.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Molecular Biology
- Drug Delivery
Background:
- Antibodies and aptamers are crucial for molecular targeting.
- Improving binding affinity is key for therapeutic efficacy.
- Existing methods may have limitations in simultaneous multi-epitope recognition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and evaluate antibody-aptamer pincers (AAPs) for enhanced target affinity.
- To create a model system using thrombin and HER2 targets.
- To explore AAPs as a platform for targeted drug delivery.
Main Methods:
- Conjugation of anti-thrombin aptamers (15-mer and 29-mer) with anti-thrombin antibodies.
- Characterization of AAP binding affinity using apparent dissociation constant (Kd(app)).
- Development of a HER2-targeted drug delivery system (DDS) using an anti-HER2 aptamer, anti-HER2 antibody, and doxorubicin.
Main Results:
- AAPs demonstrated significantly improved binding affinities compared to individual antibodies or aptamers.
- The 29-mer aptamer-conjugated AAP showed a lower Kd(app) than the 15-mer version.
- The AAP-HER2-Dox system exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity against HER2-expressing cells.
Conclusions:
- Antibody-aptamer conjugation via AAPs effectively enhances affinity for target molecules.
- The AAP system offers a promising platform for targeted drug delivery in oncology.
- This approach has potential applications against various malignancies.
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