Aptamer Library Profiling for Unknown Protein Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current protein chip technologies are limited in their ability to profile a large number of proteins, typically only able to detect hundreds of known proteins, whereas nucleic acid chips can profile over 25,000 genes, leaving a gap in profiling techniques for biomolecular populations including unknown proteins, which are crucial for disease diagnosis and drug treatment monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A method using an aptamer library tagged with specific tags to bind to capture components, forming complexes with target molecules, which are then immobilized and separated to generate an aptamer profile that represents the distribution of target molecules, enabling the detection of both known and unknown proteins in a sample.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If protein chips with antibodies are used for profiling, then the method is well-established and reliable, but the profiling capacity is limited to hundreds of known proteins
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the detection parameter from antibody-based detection (limited to known proteins) to aptamer-based detection (capable of detecting both known and unknown proteins). This parameter change enables profiling of thousands of proteins while maintaining detection reliability through the high specificity of aptamer-target binding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a universal aptamer library that can bind to multiple different target molecules simultaneously. This universal approach allows a single system to profile hundreds to thousands of different proteins in one experiment, replacing the need for multiple specific antibody assays and dramatically increasing profiling capacity.
2Ease of operation
If existing protein chip technologies are used, then the technology isๆ็ and easy to operate, but the ability to detect unknown proteins is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary selection and enrichment of target-aptamer complexes before final detection. By pre-concentrating the relevant interactions and removing non-specific binding early in the workflow, the method maintains operational simplicity while enabling the detection of unknown proteins that would otherwise be buried in complex biological samples.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces aptamers as intermediary molecules that bridge the gap between simple detection methods and complex unknown protein identification. These nucleic acid-based intermediaries provide both ease of operation (through standardized protocols) and versatility (through ability to bind diverse targets including unknown proteins).
3Loss of information
If comprehensive profiling of all proteins in a sample is attempted, then the diagnostic value increases, but the complexity and cost of the method increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a comprehensive copy of the protein profile through aptamer binding patterns. Instead of directly analyzing each protein individually (which would be complex and costly), the method uses aptamer libraries to create a representative copy of the protein population, which can then be analyzed through sequencing or other high-throughput methods, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive information capture.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method allows for the comprehensive profiling of target molecule populations, including unknown proteins, providing valuable information for drug prescription, disease diagnosis, and drug treatment monitoring, and can distinguish between different samples based on aptamer profiles.
Implementation Method 1
each target molecule of the target molecule population in the analysis target sample and each aptamer in the aptamer library form a target-aptamer complex
Implementation Method 2
treating an aptamer library tagged with a first tag that is specific to a target molecule population of a sample and is capable of binding to a first capture component, with a solid support to which the first capture component is coupled so that the first capture component and the first tag are bound to each other, thereby fixing the aptamer library to the first solid support
Implementation Method 3
isolating the complex population in a state in which the complex population is immobilized on the first solid support by removing unbound target molecules
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a profiling technique for a target molecule population in a sample including an unknown target molecule, using an aptamer. In the method of the present invention, the target molecule population in the sample may be provided as an aptamer profile including an unknown target molecule, and this aptamer profile can be used to determine whether drug prescription is appropriate (i.e., anticancer drug companion diagnosis, etc.), to provide disease diagnosis information, to monitor drug treatment, to determine drug compliance, to determine the degree or absence/presence of in vitro cellular response to drug treatment, and to obtain useful information to humans for classification or identification of species, etc.