title: Aptamers come of age - at last.
abstract: Nucleic-acid aptamers have the molecular recognition properties of antibodies, and can be isolated robotically for high-throughput applications in diagnostics, research and therapeutics. Unlike antibodies, however, they can be chemically derivatized easily to extend their lifetimes in biological fluids and their bioavailability in animals. The first aptamer-based clinical drugs have recently entered service. Meanwhile, active research programmes have identified a wide range of anti-viral aptamers that could form the basis for future therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
authors.forename: David H J
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Bunka
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Stockley
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D001709:Biotechnology; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D011506:Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D011506:Proteins