Modified nucleic acid aptamers: development, characterization, and biological applications.

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Molecular Biology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Aptamers are single-stranded DNA or RNA oligonucleotides that bind targets through specific structural interactions.
• Modified nucleotides are incorporated into aptamers during or after selection processes like SELEX to enhance their properties and performance.
• Modified aptamers offer improved stability, specificity, and functionality compared to their unmodified counterparts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advances in modified nucleotides and strategies for developing modified aptamers using modified SELEX (mod-SELEX) and post-SELEX methods.
• To highlight techniques for characterizing aptamer-target interactions.
• To discuss the progress and future challenges in modified aptamer development.

Main Methods:

• Systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) and its modified versions (mod-SELEX).
• Post-SELEX chemical modification strategies.
• Characterization methods for aptamer-target interactions.

Main Results:

• Summary of current modified nucleotides and strategies employed in aptamer development.
• Overview of recent achievements in modified aptamers targeting diverse molecules.
• Identification of key methods for aptamer-target interaction analysis.

Conclusions:

• Modified aptamers represent a significant advancement in nucleic acid-based therapeutics and diagnostics.
• Continued innovation in mod-SELEX and characterization techniques is crucial for accelerating aptamer discovery.
• Future research should focus on expanding the functional diversity and complexity of modified aptamers.