Aptamers Targeting Membrane Proteins for Sensor and Diagnostic Applications.

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering
• Molecular Diagnostics
• Proteomics

Background:

• Membrane proteins (MPs) are crucial in physiological and pathological processes, representing nearly 30% of human proteins.
• Cell surface MPs are key targets for disease diagnostics and therapeutics, serving as predictive biomarkers.
• Traditional diagnostic methods face limitations, driving the need for innovative sensing technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review aptamer-based sensing technologies for membrane protein detection in diagnostic applications.
• To highlight the advantages of aptamers over antibodies, such as stability and cost-effectiveness.
• To discuss recent methodological variations in aptasensor development.

Main Methods:

• Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential Enrichment (SELEX) for aptamer selection against specific targets.
• Development and classification of immobilized-aptamer sensing platforms (aptasensors).
• Review of aptasensor types including electrochemical, optical, and mass-sensitive platforms.

Main Results:

• Aptamers demonstrate high affinity and selectivity for target molecules, including membrane proteins.
• Immobilized-aptamer sensing platforms show significant diagnostic value compared to other analytical techniques.
• Aptasensors offer advantages like thermal stability, reusability, and ease of chemical modification.

Conclusions:

• Aptamer-based sensing technologies represent a promising approach for disease diagnostics.
• Ongoing research is expanding the utility of aptasensors through methodological innovations.
• Aptasensors provide a valuable alternative for detecting membrane proteins, crucial for various biological processes.