Abstract
Aptamers are single-stranded oligonucleotides with high affinity and specificity to the target molecules or cells, thus they can serve as an important category of molecular targeting ligand. Since their discovery, aptamers have been rapidly translated into clinical practice. The strong target affinity/selectivity, cost-effectivity, chemical versatility and safety of aptamers are superior to traditional peptides- or proteins-based ligands which make them unique choices for molecular imaging. Therefore, aptamers are considered to be extremely useful to guide various imaging contrast agents to the target tissues or cells for optical, magnetic resonance, nuclear, computed tomography, ultrasound and multimodality imaging. This review aims to provide an overview of aptamers' advantages as targeting ligands and their application in targeted imaging. Further research in synthesis of new types of aptamers and their conjugation with new categories of contrast agents is required to develop clinically translatable aptamer-based imaging agents which will eventually result in improved patient care.
Keywords: Aptamer, Molecular imaging, Nanomaterials, SELEX.
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry
Title:Applications of Aptamers in Targeted Imaging: State of the Art
Volume: 15 Issue: 12
Author(s): Casey A. Dougherty, Weibo Cai and Hao Hong
Affiliation:
Keywords: Aptamer, Molecular imaging, Nanomaterials, SELEX.
Abstract: Aptamers are single-stranded oligonucleotides with high affinity and specificity to the target molecules or cells, thus they can serve as an important category of molecular targeting ligand. Since their discovery, aptamers have been rapidly translated into clinical practice. The strong target affinity/selectivity, cost-effectivity, chemical versatility and safety of aptamers are superior to traditional peptides- or proteins-based ligands which make them unique choices for molecular imaging. Therefore, aptamers are considered to be extremely useful to guide various imaging contrast agents to the target tissues or cells for optical, magnetic resonance, nuclear, computed tomography, ultrasound and multimodality imaging. This review aims to provide an overview of aptamers' advantages as targeting ligands and their application in targeted imaging. Further research in synthesis of new types of aptamers and their conjugation with new categories of contrast agents is required to develop clinically translatable aptamer-based imaging agents which will eventually result in improved patient care.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
A. Dougherty Casey, Cai Weibo and Hong Hao, Applications of Aptamers in Targeted Imaging: State of the Art, Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry 2015; 15 (12) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1568026615666150413153400
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1568026615666150413153400 |
Print ISSN 1568-0266 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4294 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Chemistry Based on Natural Products for Therapeutic Purposes
The development of new pharmaceuticals for a wide range of medical conditions has long relied on the identification of promising natural products (NPs). There are over sixty percent of cancer, infectious illness, and CNS disease medications that include an NP pharmacophore, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Since NP ...read more
Current Trends in Drug Discovery Based on Artificial Intelligence and Computer-Aided Drug Design
Drug development discovery has faced several challenges over the years. In fact, the evolution of classical approaches to modern methods using computational methods, or Computer-Aided Drug Design (CADD), has shown promising and essential results in any drug discovery campaign. Among these methods, molecular docking is one of the most notable ...read more
Drug Discovery in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
In the age of artificial intelligence (AI), we have witnessed a significant boom in AI techniques for drug discovery. AI techniques are increasingly integrated and accelerating the drug discovery process. These developments have not only attracted the attention of academia and industry but also raised important questions regarding the selection ...read more
From Biodiversity to Chemical Diversity: Focus of Flavonoids
Flavonoids are the largest group of polyphenols, plant secondary metabolites arising from the essential aromatic amino acid phenylalanine (or more rarely from tyrosine) via the phenylpropanoid pathway. The flavan nucleus is the basic 15-carbon skeleton of flavonoids (C6-C3-C6), which consists of two phenyl rings (A and B) and a heterocyclic ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Use of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Crohn's Disease and Perianal Fistulas:
A Narrative Review
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy New Hybrids Derived from the Natural Compound (-)-β-Pinene and Amides or Acylthioureas as Antitumor Agents
Letters in Drug Design & Discovery Doxorubicin vs. ladirubicin: methods for improving osteosarcoma treatment
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Vitamin D and Breast Cancer Incidence and Outcome
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Loop Transverse Colostomy - A Modified Technique
Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening Inhibitors of Nitrogen Oxide Species Production in Animal Models of Inflammation and Future Directions for Therapy in Inflammatory Disorders
Current Medicinal Chemistry - Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents The Akt Pathway: Molecular Targets for Anti-Cancer Drug Development
Current Cancer Drug Targets Microfluidic Devices for Circulating Tumor Cells Isolation and Subsequent Analysis
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Simulated Microgravity Based Stem Cell Cultures Enhance Their Utility for Cell-Based Therapy
Current Biotechnology Estrogenic Phenol and Catechol Metabolites of PCBs Modulate Catechol-Omethyltransferase Expression Via the Estrogen Receptor: Potential Contribution to Cancer Risk
Current Drug Metabolism Fundamental Concepts of the Angiogenic Process
Current Molecular Medicine Analysis of Key GO Terms and KEGG Pathways Associated with Carcinogenic Chemicals
Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening Towards the Design of Social Media to Promote Physical Activity
Recent Advances in Communications and Networking Technology (Discontinued) In vitro and in vivo Evaluation of Antitumor Drug-Loaded Aptamer Targeted Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes System
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Patent Selections
Recent Patents on Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Drug Discovery Gold Nanoparticles as Carrier(s) for Drug Targeting and Imaging
Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology Predicting Chemotherapy Sensitivity Profiles for Breast Cancer Cell Lines with and Without Stem Cell-Like Features
Current Signal Transduction Therapy Molecular Mechanisms Regulating Matrix Metalloproteinases
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Synthesis and Preliminarily Cytotoxicity to A549, HCT116 and MCF-7 Cell Lines of thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine Derivatives Containing Isoxazole Moiety
Letters in Drug Design & Discovery Recent Advances of Kinesin Motor Inhibitors and their Clinical Progress
Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials