Improving synthesis and binding affinities of nucleic acid aptamers and their therapeutics and diagnostic applications

• Published in: Biophysical chemistry Vol. 309; p. 107218
• Main Authors: Mili, Malaya, Bachu, Vinay, Kuri, Pooja Rani, Singh, Naveen Kumar, Goswami, Pranab
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.06.2024
• Subjects: Aptamers, Nucleotide - chemistry; Biorecognition; Biosensors; Clinical diagnosis; Nucleic Acids; RNA; SELEX; SELEX Aptamer Technique - methods; ssDNA; RNA; Database; Biosensors; Clinical diagnosis; Biorecognition; ssDNA; SELEX
• ISSN: 0301-4622; 1873-4200; 1873-4200
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2024.107218

Nucleic acid aptamers have captivated the attention of analytical and medicinal scientists globally due to their several advantages as recognition molecules over conventional antibodies because of their small size, simple and inexpensive synthesis, broad target range, and high stability in varied environmental conditions. These recognition molecules can be chemically modified to make them resistant to nuclease action in blood serum, reduce rapid renel clearance, improve the target affinity and selectivity, and make them amenable to chemically conjugate with a support system that facilitates their selective applications. This review focuses on the development of efficient aptamer candidates and their application in clinical diagnosis and therapeutic applications. Significant advances have been made in aptamer-based diagnosis of infectious and non-infectious diseases. Collaterally, the progress made in therapeutic applications of aptamers is encouraging, as evident from their use in diagnosing cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, microbial infection, and in imaging. This review also updates the progress on clinical trials of many aptamer-based products of commercial interests. The key development and critical issues on the subject have been summarized in the concluding remarks. [Display omitted] •Nucleic acid aptamers are robust molecules for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.•Conventionally these aptamers are synthesised by a chemical technique, SELEX.•Various modifications of SELEX are emerged to improve their synthesis protocol.•Their binding affinity and functions could be improved through chemical modifications.•Nucleic acid aptamers are gradually penetrating to the market niches.