Aptamers are single-stranded DNA or RNA molecules - oligonucleotides - capable of binding specifically to defined molecular targets. Their numerous advantages and applications have made them a versatile and important tool in biochemistry, nanotechnology, and medicine over the past twenty-five years. They successfully compete with commonly used antibodies in all those fields, increasingly becoming the first choice in the search for a specific antigen-binding molecule. Aptamers are obtained with the SELEX method, also called an “in vitro evolution”, which over the years has been continuously improved using more and more sophisticated laboratory techniques. However, the persisting problem is the restricted repertoire of naturally occurring nucleobases, which offer a limited pool of chemical groups that can interact with molecular targets.

Recognizing the market need for new high-end aptamers, and using our team’s expertise and experience in Pure Biologics, we decided to challenge that issue.  We are developing an innovative, chemically-modified aptamers discovery platform, called PureApta, which is located within the scope of our internal R&D activities. At the end of 2016 we secured the governmental co-financing by the European Regional Development Fund through the NCBR’s POIR program for the years 2014 – 2020, Action 1.1 „Projekty B+R przedsiębiorstw” subaction 1.1.1 „Badania przemysłowe i prace rozwojowe realizowane przez przedsiębiorstwa”, for the project entitled „Innovative modular PureApta service platform for selection of modified aptamers with diagnostic and therapeutic potential”.