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Aptamers and their Applications in Nanomedicine #MMPMID25677591
Sun H; Zu Y
Small 2015[May]; 11 (20): 2352-64 PMID25677591show ga
Aptamers are composed of short RNA or single-stranded DNA sequences that, when folded into their unique three-dimensional conformation, can specifically bind to their cognate targets with high specificity and affinity. Although functionally similar to protein antibodies, oligonucleotide aptamers offer several advantages over protein antibodies in biomedical and clinical applications. Additionally, through the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect, nanomedicines can improve the therapeutic index of a treatment and reduce side effects by enhancing accumulation at the disease site. However, this EPR effect is ?passive targeting? to tumors and thus, may not be an ideal approach for targeted cancer therapy. To construct ligand-directed ?active targeting? nano-based delivery systems, aptamer technology has been widely studied. The aptamer-equipped nanomedicines have been tested for in vitro diagnosis, in vivo imaging, targeted cancer therapy, theranostic approaches, sub-cellular molecule detection, food safety, and environment monitoring. This review will focus on the development of aptamer-conjugated nanomedicines and their application for in vivo imaging, targeted therapy, and theranostics. In some applications, aptamers can also be used as drug carriers or ON/OFF switches. Herein, some outstanding therapeutic approaches are also discussed on a case-by-case basis, such as an ?on-command? release system and a combinational therapy strategy.
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Small 2015 ; 11 (20): 2352-64
