Selection and Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Binding Clickmers.

ABSTRACT: Expanding the chemical repertoire of canonical nucleotides is key to unlocking the full functional potential of aptamers for diagnostic use. Herein, click-systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) is employed to generate chemically modified DNA aptamers, termed clickmers, that target the SARS-CoV-2 spike (CoV2-S) glycoprotein. Two independent split-combine selection strategies yield distinct clickmer families functionalized with benzofuran or indole moieties. Lead candidates (BF1 and N2) demonstrate nanomolar affinity for wild-type CoV2-S and maintain binding to multiple variants, including Alpha, Delta, and Mu, as validated by flow cytometry, surface plasmon resonance, and microscale thermophoresis. Structure-function analysis reveals essential click-in positions f

SUBMITTER: Moradzadeh N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12789893 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature