Aptamers and Use of the Aptamers in the Diagnosis and Treatment of a Sars-Cov-2 Infection

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This patent discloses specific aptamers—short, single-stranded oligonucleotides—that bind with high affinity to the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein, but notably do not bind to its receptor-binding domain (RBD) or block the RBD's interaction with human ACE2 receptors. These aptamers can be synthesized with defined sequences and are highly specific and stable. They are useful for both the diagnosis and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection, including use in diagnostic assays (like ELONA or lateral flow tests) and therapeutic compositions (such as nasal sprays), and can serve as vehicles for targeted delivery of anti-viral agents.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Rapid, sensitive, and specific diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection using aptamer-based diagnostic tools (e.g., lateral flow assays, enzyme-linked oligonucleotide assays).
• Development of point-of-care or mass-testing kits for COVID-19.
• Formulation of pharmaceutical products (such as nasal sprays or inhalation solutions) for direct inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients.
• Use as a therapeutic agent to prevent or reduce viral entry and infection in at-risk or exposed individuals.
• Conjugation with antiviral drugs, toxins, or antibodies to create targeted delivery systems to infected cells for enhanced therapeutic efficacy.
• Monitoring viral presence in different biological samples (e.g., saliva, blood, serum, phlegm) for clinical or epidemiological purposes.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Aptamers bind specifically to the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein with high affinity, enabling accurate and early diagnosis.
• They do not bind to the spike's receptor-binding domain (RBD) or block its interaction with ACE2, reducing the risk of interference with neutralizing antibody therapies and potentially being unaffected by RBD mutations.
• Aptamers can be rapidly and cost-effectively synthesized in vitro, enabling scalable mass production for diagnostics and therapeutics.
• Overall stability and potential for chemical modifications make aptamers suitable for varied clinical applications, including formulations for nasal or inhalation administration.
• Aptamer-based tests allow for faster, more affordable, and potentially more sensitive detection compared to conventional methods like RT-PCR or antibody-based assays.
• Because they can serve as vehicles for delivering other drugs or molecules specifically to virus-infected cells, these aptamers open avenues for combination therapies and targeted treatment approaches.

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Patent Abstract

The present invention relates to an aptamer not binding to the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein nor inhibiting the interaction of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of spike glycoprotein with angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2) and/or comprising or consisting of a nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO: 1, a composition comprising the aptamer, and the use of the aptamer in the detection of SARS-CoV-2 or diagnosis or treatment of a SARS-CoV-2 infection.