Selective Enrichment of Hypermethylated DNA by a Multivalent Binding Platform

The preselection of hypermethylated DNA (hmDNA) from liquid biopsy samples is key to enable early-stage cancer diagnostics. Due limited selectivity the existing approaches, however, wide integration in clinic currently prohibited. Here, it argued that an affinity method on a surface, such as used chromatography, can be significantly improved by employing principles multivalency and superselectivity. In here proposed method, methyl binding domain (MBD) protein immobilized at surface receptor for (hyper)methylated DNA. By organization multiple MBDs multivalent platform achieved. MBD density increase enrichment hmDNA single binds both methylated non-methylated with small difference affinity. When varied, analyte typically responds non-linear fashion, which phenomenon called careful tuning density, envisaged over optimized. Strong applicability foreseen medical setting implementing step analytical process or lab-on-a-chip device.