About this Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology article

Aptamer Nucleotide Analog Drug Conjugates in the Targeting Therapy of Cancers by Yongshu Li; Jing Zhao; Zhichao Xue; Chiman Tsang; Xiaoting Qiao; Lianhua Dong; Huijie Li; Yi Yang; Bin Yu; Yunhua Gao is a Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology article available to read on EtoBox.

Aptamers are short single-strand oligonucleotides that can form secondary and tertiary structures, fitting targets with high affinity and specificity. They are so-called “chemical antibodies” and can target specific biomarkers in both diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) is usually used for the enrichment and selection of aptamers, and the targets could be metal ions, small molecules, nucleotides, proteins, cells, or even tissues or organs. Due to the high specificity and distinctive binding affinity of aptamers, aptamer–drug conjugates (ApDCs) have demonstrated their potential role in drug delivery for cancer-targeting therapies. Compared with antibodies which are produced by a cell-based bioreactor, aptamers are chemically synthesized molecules that can be easily conjugated to drugs and modified; however, the conventional ApDCs conjugate the aptamer with an active drug using a linker which may add more concerns to the stability of the ApDC, the drug-releasing efficiency, and the drug-loading capacity. The function of aptamer in conventional ApDC is just as a targeting moiety which could not fully perform the ad

Author

Yongshu Li; Jing Zhao; Zhichao Xue; Chiman Tsang; Xiaoting Qiao; Lianhua Dong; Huijie Li; Yi Yang; Bin Yu; Yunhua Gao

Publisher

Frontiers Media SA

Published

2022

Language

EN

Field

Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (Life Sciences)