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Aptamers-Diagnostic and Therapeutic Solution in SARS-CoV-2
Tomasz Wandtke1, Ewelina Wędrowska1,2, Marcin Szczur2
1Department of Lung Diseases, Neoplasms and Tuberculosis, Faculty of Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|February 15, 2022
Summary
Aptamers, which are nucleic acid fragments, offer a promising solution for rapid, sensitive, and low-cost COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment. These aptamers can be developed into aptasensors for early SARS-CoV-2 detection and therapeutic applications.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Molecular Biology
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) poses a significant global public health challenge, disrupting health services and economies.
- Effective control of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) necessitates urgent development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic tools for early detection and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in aptamer-based technologies for the detection and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infections.
- To highlight the potential of aptamers in developing rapid, sensitive, specific, and cost-effective diagnostic tests and point-of-care devices.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent literature on aptamer design and application in SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics and therapeutics.
- Exploration of aptasensor principles utilizing fluorescence, chemiluminescence, and electrochemical detection methods.
Main Results:
- Aptamers, short DNA or RNA fragments, exhibit high specificity and affinity for binding viral proteins.
- Aptasensors demonstrate potential for rapid, sensitive, and specific detection of SARS-CoV-2.
- Aptamers can function as therapeutic agents by blocking viral activity or delivering therapeutic substances.
Conclusions:
- Aptamers are versatile tools for developing advanced diagnostic and therapeutic solutions for COVID-19.
- The application of aptamers in aptasensors facilitates routine diagnosis and point-of-care testing for SARS-CoV-2.
- Aptamers hold significant promise for both the early detection and effective treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infections.
