Aptamers and Their Significant Role in Cancer Therapy and Diagnosis

Biomedicines

rib-type="author">Joy Sebastian PrakashJoy Sebastian Prakash²  Karunanithi Rajamanickam¹ 

[1] Faculty of Allied Health Sciences (FAHS), Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, Chennai 603103, Tamil Nadu, India; E-Mail

关键词: aptamers;    SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment);    cell surface biomarkers;    nanoparticles;    aptasensors;    cancer imaging;   

DOI  :  10.3390/biomedicines3030248

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Aptamers are nucleic acid/peptide molecules that can be generated by a sophisticated, well-established technique known as Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment (SELEX). Aptamers can interact with their targets through structural recognition, as in antibodies, though with higher specificity. With this added advantage, they can be made useful for clinical applications such as targeted therapy and diagnosis. In this review, we have discussed the steps involved in SELEX process and modifications executed to attain high affinity nucleic acid aptamers. Moreover, our review also highlights the therapeutic applications of aptamer functionalized nanoparticles and nucleic acids as chemo-therapeutic agents. In addition, we have described the development of “aptasensor” in clinical diagnostic application for detecting cancer cells and the use of aptamers in different routine imaging techniques, such as Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography, Ultrasound, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.