Controlled Release / Cleavable Linkers

Design oligos with on-demand release using photocleavable, reductive, acid-labile, enzyme-cleavable, and self-immolative linkers. Optimized for research to GMP-like supply with UPLC/HPLC & LC-MS QC.

Photocleavable Reductive (Disulfide) Acid-Labile Enzyme-Cleavable Self-Immolative

Overview

Bio‑Synthesis provides end‑to‑end solutions for controlled release (cleavable) linkers on DNA and RNA oligonucleotides. We engineer light‑activated, redox‑responsive, acid‑labile, and enzyme‑cleavable designs to enable on‑demand cargo release, higher signal‑to‑noise, and tissue‑ or pathway‑specific activation.

Our capabilities span photocleavable linkers for oligonucleotides (o‑nitrobenzyl/DMNB/NVOC and blue‑light coumarins), disulfide linkers for siRNA/ASO delivery, hydrazone and other acid‑labile linkers for endosomal release, and enzyme‑cleavable peptide linkers (Val‑Cit‑PABC, MMP motifs) with self‑immolative spacers for traceless payload liberation. From screening µmol to multi‑gram campaigns, we provide plate formats, custom conjugations (peptides, lipids, dyes, biotin), and matched analytics.

  • Use cases: siRNA/ASO conjugates, antibody–oligo conjugates (AOC/ADC‑style), affinity capture & gentle photorelease, spatial biology/optogenetics, time‑resolved DNA repair and chemical ligation studies.
  • QC & documentation: UPLC/HPLC, LC‑MS, cleavage kinetics, serum stability; ISO 9001/13485 workflows with RUO → GMP‑like documentation.
  • SEO focus terms: cleavable linker oligo, photocleavable oligonucleotide, disulfide oligo linker, hydrazone DNA linker, enzyme‑cleavable peptide linker, Val‑Cit‑PABC linker, self‑immolative spacer, controlled release DNA/RNA modifications.

End-to-End Workflow

1
Discovery Brief
targets • matrix • scale
2
Design
trigger • placement • spacers
3
Synthesis
solid‑phase • plates
4
Conjugation
PC/SS/Hydrazone • peptides
5
Purification
HPLC / UPLC
6
QC
LC‑MS • release tests
7
Package & Scale
tubes • plates • RUO→GMP‑like
🧬Design & Linker Strategy
  • Pick trigger (photocleavable, disulfide, hydrazone, enzyme) with optional PABC self‑immolation.
  • Place on termini/loops; add HEG/PEG to reduce sterics and preserve Tm.
  • Pair with GalNAc, lipids, peptides for delivery + controlled activation.
🧪Purification & Analytics
  • HPLC/UPLC, LC‑MS, cleavage kinetics, serum stability.
  • Optional endotoxin/residuals; method‑matched release packages.
🏭Scale & Packaging
  • µmol screens → gram/multi‑gram campaigns.
  • Tubes/vials/96‑well plates with labels/barcodes; documentation RUO→GMP‑like.

Products & Notes

Product / Modification Description Typical use Code
o-Nitrobenzyl (oNB) Photocleavable dT / rA / Spacer UV-cleavable group for light-triggered strand or cargo release. Caged probes; spatiotemporal control [PC-oNB]
DMNB / NVOC Variants Electron-rich oNB analogs with tuned λ and quantum yield. Optimized photo-uncaging [PC-DMNB]
Coumarin Photolabile Linker Blue-light responsive (405–450 nm) to reduce phototoxicity. Live-cell uncaging [PC-COUM]
Photocleavable PEG Spacer Hydrophilic spacer with optical release capability. Affinity capture → gentle photorelease [PC-PEG]
Photocleavable Biotin Handle Biotinylation tag with photo-cleavable linker. Capture & photorelease from streptavidin [PC-BIO]
Technical Notes
  • Match instrument wavelength and verify release kinetics by LC-MS.
  • Place outside critical hybridization zones; add HEG/PEG spacers to preserve Tm.
  • Shield from ambient light to reduce background cleavage.

Product / Modification Description Typical use Code
Disulfide Linker (SS-Spacer) Cleaves in reductive environments for intracellular release. siRNA/ASO conjugates; AOC payloads [SS-LIN]
Disulfide-PEG Linker Hydrophilic spacer bearing a central S–S bond. Solubility + triggered release [SS-PEG]
Cleavable Biotin (SS-Biotin) Biotin with reducible disulfide for gentle elution. Affinity capture → DTT/TCEP elution [SS-BIO]
Thiol-Labile Crosslink (Reversible) Reagent enabling reversible immobilization via S–S exchange. Temporary capture; release on demand [SS-XLK]
Technical Notes
  • Target serum stability with fast intracellular reduction (GSH ≈1–10 mM).
  • Cap residual thiols post-conjugation to prevent exchange; confirm by LC-MS.

Product / Modification Description Typical use Code
Hydrazone Linker Cleaves at pH ~5–6 with stability at neutral pH. Endosomal release [ACID-HYDZ]
Trityl-Like Acid-Labile Spacer Acid-removable, protecting-group-inspired linker. Solid-support/workflow control [ACID-TRT]
Acid-Cleavable PEG PEG spacer incorporating acid-labile functionality. pH-triggered release; improved solubility [ACID-PEG]
Technical Notes
  • Profile cleavage at pH 5–6 and stability at pH 7.4 in serum-like buffers.
  • Use endosomal escape enhancers when cytosolic activity is required.

Product / Modification Description Typical use Code
Val-Cit-PABC Peptide Cathepsin-B cleavable peptide; PABC self-immolates for clean release. AOC/ADC-style targeted delivery [ENZ-VCP]
MMP-Cleavable Peptide Matrix metalloprotease-responsive sequence. Tumor microenvironment targeting [ENZ-MMP]
β-Galactosidase-Cleavable Linker Glycosidic trigger hydrolyzed by β-gal. Cell-type selective activation [ENZ-GAL]
Phosphatase-Cleavable Phosphate Spacer Removable phosphate-masked handle for enzyme-triggered unmasking. Conditional activation in vitro [ENZ-PHOS]
Technical Notes
  • Add PABC after the scissile bond for traceless payload release.
  • Insert PEG/HEG to reduce sterics and preserve hybridization/activity.

Product / Modification Description Typical use Code
Self-Immolative Spacer (PABC) Elimination cascade after a single trigger for traceless release. Clean payload liberation [SI-PABC]
Dde-Cleavable Linker Hydrazine-sensitive for orthogonal deprotection/release. On-resin/on-solid workflows [CHEM-DDE]
Fmoc-like Base-Labile Linker Base-triggered deprotection/release. Workflow gating [CHEM-FMOC]
Azobenzene Linker Reductive/photochemical cleavability with conformational control. Switchable control & release [CHEM-AZO]
Technical Notes
  • Stage orthogonal triggers (light vs redox vs acid) for multi-step logic.
  • Combine with targeting ligands (GalNAc, peptides, lipids) to couple delivery & activation.

Technology Design & Applications

Our cleavable linker portfolio includes multiple strategies in a unified design framework:

  • Photocleavable: oNB/DMNB/NVOC and coumarins for light-triggered spatial/temporal uncaging.
  • Reductive (Disulfide): thiol-cleavable linkers responsive to GSH/DTT/TCEP for siRNA/ASO delivery.
  • Acid-Labile: hydrazone and trityl-like linkers tuned for endosomal pH (≈5–6), stable at neutral pH.
  • Enzyme-Cleavable: cathepsin (Val-Cit-PABC), MMP, and glycosidase motifs for tissue-specific activation.
  • Self-Immolative: PABC/carbamate spacers that eliminate after a trigger for traceless payload release.

This single framework simplifies design choices while improving clarity and SEO relevance for cleavable linker oligonucleotides.

FAQ

Which cleavable strategy should I choose?

Photocleavable for precise optical control; disulfide for intracellular reductive release; hydrazone for endosomal pH; enzyme‑cleavable peptides for tissue specificity; PABC for traceless self‑immolation.

Do linkers alter duplex stability?

Prefer termini/loops and add HEG/PEG spacers to preserve Tm and activity; confirm by melting curves.

Do you offer plate‑ready formats?

Yes—tubes or 96‑well plates with barcoding, harmonized purification, and matched QC across wells.

Which cleavable linker strategy is best for my oligonucleotide project?

The choice depends on your application: photocleavable linkers (o-nitrobenzyl, DMNB, coumarins) are best for optical control; disulfide linkers for intracellular reductive environments (siRNA/ASO delivery); acid-labile hydrazone linkers for endosomal release; enzyme-cleavable peptide linkers (Val-Cit-PABC, MMP) for tissue specificity; and self-immolative spacers for traceless activation.

Do cleavable linkers affect DNA or RNA duplex stability?

Bulky linkers can shift melting temperature (Tm). We recommend terminal placement or loop regions, plus PEG/HEG spacers to minimize steric effects. For therapeutic designs (siRNA, ASO), validation with melting curves and LC-MS is recommended.

Can you provide GMP-like documentation for cleavable oligonucleotides?

Yes. Bio-Synthesis offers ISO 9001/13485-aligned workflowsRUO → GMP-like documentation, and complete QC packages including UPLC/HPLC, LC-MS, cleavage kinetics, and serum stability studies.

What are typical applications of controlled release oligonucleotides?

Applications include siRNA and antisense oligonucleotide deliveryantibody-oligo conjugates (AOC/ADC)affinity capture and controlled photoreleaseoptogeneticsspatial transcriptomics, and DNA repair and chemical ligation studies.

Can cleavable linkers be combined with conjugation chemistries?

Yes. We frequently combine cleavable linkers with lipid conjugates (cholesterol, GalNAc, DHA)peptidesfluorescent dyes, or affinity tags (biotin). This enables targeted delivery with on-demand activation.

Do you supply oligonucleotides in high-throughput or plate formats?

Yes. We offer tube and 96-well plate formats, barcoded for automation, suitable for HTS assays and drug discovery campaigns.

Speak to a Scientist

Please avoid confidential details; we can arrange an NDA if needed.

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