Engineered aptamers for molecular imaging

Abstract

Molecular imaging, including quantification and molecular interaction studies, plays a crucial role in visualizing and analysing molecular events. Aptamers are wildly employed in molecular imaging with a wide range of targets and imaging modalities.

Computational Frontiers in Aptamer-Based Nanomedicine for Precision Therapeutics: A Comprehensive Review

“…This enables aptamers to efficiently access and visualize biomarkers within complex cellular environments, offering superior insights into biological processes and disease states. Aptamers can target a vast array of molecules crucial to diagnostic imaging, including cell surface receptors, intracellular proteins, and disease-specific biomarkers like prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) and nucleolin . To facilitate their use in imaging, aptamers are often conjugated to reporter molecules.…”

“…To facilitate their use in imaging, aptamers are often conjugated to reporter molecules. These reporters can be fluorescent dyes, radioisotopes, nanoparticles, or other moieties tailored for specific imaging modalities, allowing for signal transduction and visualization . In fluorescence imaging, aptamers deliver fluorescent probes to the target site, providing high-resolution visualization of cellular dynamics and molecular interactions in real-time .…”

“…In MRI, aptamers can be integrated with contrast agents such as gadolinium-based compounds or superparamagnetic nanoparticles, enhancing image contrast and anatomical detail . The chemical versatility of aptamers allows them to be customized for emerging modalities like X-ray computed tomography (CT), echography, and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), offering unique diagnostic possibilities . The unparalleled targeting precision of aptamers makes them immensely valuable for diagnosing and imaging various pathologies.…”

“…Aptamers can target a vast array of molecules crucial to diagnostic imaging, including cell surface receptors, intracellular proteins, and disease-specific biomarkers like prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) and nucleolin. 229 To facilitate their use in imaging, aptamers are often conjugated to reporter molecules. These reporters can be fluorescent dyes, radioisotopes, nanoparticles, or other moieties tailored for specific imaging modalities, allowing for signal transduction and visualization.…”

“…These reporters can be fluorescent dyes, radioisotopes, nanoparticles, or other moieties tailored for specific imaging modalities, allowing for signal transduction and visualization. 229 In fluorescence imaging, aptamers deliver fluorescent probes to the target site, providing high-resolution visualization of cellular dynamics and molecular interactions in real-time. 9 For nuclear imaging modalities like PET and SPECT, aptamer-linked radioisotopes enable sensitive detection and quantification of biological targets deep within the body, aiding in earlier disease diagnosis and treatment monitoring.…”