Development of a dsDNA glycogen binding aptamer

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The research project is the development of DNA aptamers, which specifically bind to glycogen molecules. Glycogen is the main component of phytoglycogen nanoparticles. These nanoparticles are produced by an industrial partner, Mirexus Biotechnologies, based in Guelph, ON, The company has created a process to extract naturally occurring phytoglycogen nanoparticles from sweet corn. The development of the DNA aptamers to glycogen would enable Mirexus to detect, quantify, and purify the phytoglycogen nanoparticles from biological and environmental samples and allow to conduct stability and degradation testing of native and modified nanoparticle within environmental and biological samples; the key knowledge required for regulatory affairs. Furthermore, glycogen specific aptamers can accelerate research of novel uses for glycogen nanoparticles by providing a means of tethering other small molecules, targeting moieties, or biologics to phytoglycogen nanoparticles. Mirexus's expansion of nanoparticle technologies will lead to increased demand for the nanoparticles, growth of the company, and ultimately, creation of more high-tech jobs for Canadians thereby directly benefiting the Canadian economy.