Cell Imaging – Aptamers can monitor the different stages of cancer
18th April 2018
Previously we introduced aptamers as a tool for cell specific staining. Here we have taken this technology a step further to demonstrate that aptamers can monitor disease progression in cancer.
By utilising our selection methodology, we can rapidly isolate aptamers against cells in different disease states. Through this process we have been able to identify aptamers against 3 different disease state cell lines in 3 months, an objective where 10 years of research failed.
In this example we carried out our standard cell selection against different stages of throat cancer. We then used the cells in different disease states for counter selection. One of the key drivers for this project was to ensure that each aptamer is specific against their target cell stage. To view this, we labelled each aptamer with a fluorophore and viewed them using confocal microscopy.
Using this method, we have shown that we have selected aptamers which are specific to the same cell type at different stages within a disease cycle.
One of the unique features of this approach is that we do not need to know the specific biomarker we are raising aptamers against, only that there is a difference between the cell lines. This allows us to simultaneously perform biomarker discovery while developing imaging reagents.
Get in touch to learn more about our aptamer selection services against cells, proteins or small molecules.
Explore website Resource library Sign up to our Newsletter