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Cell-SELEX-based aptamer-conjugated nanomaterials for enhanced targeting of cancer cells

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Abstract

Early detection and treatment of cancer depends on developing highly sensitive and specific methods for targeting cancer cells. To do this, aptamers, which are generated by a novel technique called cell-SELEX (systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment), have been widely applied in cancer cell targeting based on such merits as high target affinity and specificity, small size, minimal immunogenicity, and ease of chemical modification. Furthermore, aptamers can gain more flexibility as cancer cell targeting tools when conjugated to nanomaterials, including metallic nanoparticles, quantum dots, silica nanoparticles, and carbon nanomaterials, among others. In this review, we discuss the use of cell-SELEX-based aptamer-nanomaterials conjugates as novel molecular tools for enhanced targeting of cancer cells.

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  1. State Key Laboratory for Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics; College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, China

    RongMei Kong, Zhuo Chen, Mao Ye, XiaoBing Zhang & WeiHong Tan

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  1. RongMei Kong
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  2. Zhuo Chen
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  3. Mao Ye
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Correspondence to XiaoBing Zhang or WeiHong Tan.

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Kong, R., Chen, Z., Ye, M. et al. Cell-SELEX-based aptamer-conjugated nanomaterials for enhanced targeting of cancer cells. Sci. China Chem. 54, 1218–1226 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-011-4336-5

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