Antibody-Oligonucleotide Conjugate (AOC)

AOC (Antibody-Oligonucleotide Conjugate) refers to a targeted delivery platform in which an antibody or antibody fragment is conjugated to a functional oligonucleotide molecule. The antibody component is designed to recognize specific cell-surface antigens or receptors, thereby enabling targeted delivery of oligonucleotide payloads to selected tissues or cell types. The oligonucleotide component may include siRNA, ASO, PMO, miRNA mimics, or other nucleic acid-based molecules, which are commonly used to modulate gene expression, induce RNA degradation, regulate RNA splicing, or achieve gene silencing. Unlike conventional ADCs, the functional payload of an AOC is generally not a cytotoxic small molecule, but an oligonucleotide with gene-regulatory activity. Therefore, AOCs can be used for research in antibody-mediated nucleic acid delivery, tissue-specific gene modulation, RNA therapeutics, neuromuscular diseases, metabolic diseases, oncology, inflammation, and immunology.