Aptamer-Enabled Nanomaterials for Therapeutics, Drug Targeting and Imaging

Abstract

A wide variety of nanomaterials have emerged in recent years with advantageous properties for a plethora of therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Such applications include drug delivery, imaging, anti-cancer therapy and radiotherapy. There is a critical need for further components which can facilitate therapeutic targeting, augment their physicochemical properties, or broaden their theranostic applications. Aptamers are single-stranded nucleic acids which have been selected or evolved to bind specifically to molecules, surfaces, or cells. Aptamers can also act as direct biologic therapeutics, or in imaging and diagnostics. There is a rich field of discovery at the interdisciplinary interface between nanomaterials and aptamer science that has significant potential across biomedicine. Herein, we review recent progress in aptamer-enabled materials and discuss pending challenges for their future biomedical application.

Nanoscale bioconjugates: A review of the structural attributes of drug-loaded nanocarrier conjugates for selective cancer therapy

“…These nucleic acid carriers provide convenient cellular internalization, drug release, and improved drug efficiency. New preparation routes augmented the controlled physicochemical characteristics for many desired applications [ 136 ].…”

Utilization of Nanomaterials in Bioimaging and Cancer Theranostics

“…Few materials possess unique physiological properties like magnetism or surface plasma resonance (SPR). The targeting moieties are incorporated onto non biological materials like hydrogels, micelles, liposomes, gold and silica nanoparticles and exhibit the enhanced therapeutic efficiency [31].…”

“…The efficacy of aptamers functionalized CRISPR/Cas9 has been revealed in animal models. Apart from this, many other synthetic delivery platforms are found to be promising and function driven, still, possess potential toxicity and triggers immune response and has got low specificity limiting its use in wide range [31].…”

Molecularly Imprinting–Aptamer Techniques and Their Applications in Molecular Recognition

“…The binding of aptamers to targets depends on the diverse three-dimensional structures and spatial conformations of single-stranded nucleic acid. Aptamers have the advantages of biocompatibility, wide availability, flexible structure and ease of modification [ 8 ] and have high specificity, thereby reducing the nonselective adsorption of MIPs. Combinations of MIPs and aptamers improve the specificity and affinity of polymers to target molecules, and are thus of great research significance.…”