Nanotechnology and aptamers: applications in drug delivery.
Nucleic acid ligands, also known as aptamers, are a class of macromolecules that are being used in several novel nanobiomedical applications. Aptamers are characterized by high affinity and specificity for their target, a versatile selection process, ease of chemical synthesis and a small physical size, which collectively make them attractive molecules for targeting diseases or as therapeutics. These properties will enable aptamers to facilitate innovative new nanotechnologies with applications in medicine. In this review, we will highlight recent developments in using aptamers in nanotechnology solutions for treating and diagnosing disease.
Laboratory of Nanomedicine and Biomaterials, Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis St, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Etgar
E
Levy-Nissenbaum
Aleksandar F
AF
Radovic-Moreno
Andrew Z
AZ
Wang
Robert
R
Langer
Omid C
OC
Farokhzad
D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D052156:SELEX Aptamer Technique / Q000379:methods
D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D009841:Oligonucleotides