Work

Aptamers as Therapeutics

Year: 2017

Type: review

Abstract: Aptamers are single-stranded nucleic acid molecules that bind to and inhibit proteins and are commonly produced by systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX). Aptamers undergo extensive pharmacological revision, which alters affinity, specificity, and therapeutic half-life, tailoring each drug for a specific clinical need. The first therapeutic aptamer was described 25 years ago. Thus far, one aptamer has been approved for clinical use, and numerous others are in preclinical or clinical development. This review presents a short history of aptamers and SELEX, describes their pharmacological development and optimization, and reviews potential treatment of diseases including visual disorders, thrombosis, and cancer.

Source: The Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology

DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-010716-104558

Authors: Shahid M. Nimjee, Rebekah R. White, Richard C. Becker, Bruce A. Sullenger

Institutions: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Duke Medical Center, University of Cincinnati Medical Center

Language: English

Topic: Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke