Beneficiary: Life Science Inkubator Betriebs GmbH & Co. KG
Funding: 15.04.2019 bis 14.04.2022, 1.730.733,00 Euro

Project description

In many diagnostic tests, such as ELISA assays, detection reagents are used to detect disease-relevant markers. Detection reagents specifically bind only one particular protein – their target protein.

At the LSI Dr. Joachim Schorr and his team Clickmer Systems are refining the Clickmer technology. They are using this technology to generate clickmers as alternative detection reagents for use in diagnostics and research. The demand for alternative, reliable detector molecules is constantly increasing because many of the antibodies that have been offered so far produce poorly reproducible results, not least due to the high batch-to-batch variation of these antibodies. This is particularly problematic in the diagnostic market. In addition, for many interesting target proteins there are no antibodies available.

Clickmers are chemically modified nucleic acids that bind their target structures, mostly proteins, in a highly sensitive, specific and reproducible way. A once established and validated chemical synthesis process guarantees this reproducibility while complying with GLP & GMP guidelines. This distinguishes the Clickmer production process from any biological production process used for the production of antibodies.

The chemical modifications also increase the potential interaction possibilities of clickmers with their target protein compared to, for example, classical aptamers. Clickmers can be modified with a variety of different labels so that detection is possible according to the customer's requirements.

The aim is to develop clickmer-based diagnostic assays in ELONA format and to establish clickmers as detection reagents for use in Westerblot.