Aptamer-Based Strategies for Colorectal Cancer Detection: Emerging Technologies and Future Directions.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Molecular Diagnostics
• Oncology

Background:

• Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major global health concern, with early diagnosis critical for patient outcomes.
• Current diagnostic methods for CRC present limitations in sensitivity, specificity, cost, and invasiveness, especially for early-stage detection.
• Aptamers, synthetic oligonucleotides with high target affinity, are emerging as superior alternatives to antibodies in biosensing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of aptamer-based strategies for colorectal cancer (CRC) detection.
• To examine CRC biomarkers, aptamer selection/design, and integration into advanced sensing platforms.
• To discuss the clinical translation, challenges, and future directions for aptamer-based CRC diagnostics.

Main Methods:

• Review of established and emerging CRC biomarkers.
• Analysis of aptamer selection techniques (e.g., SELEX variants) and in silico optimization.
• Exploration of aptasensor platforms (electrochemical, optical, nanomaterial-enhanced) and their integration with microfluidics and wearable technologies.

Main Results:

• Aptamers demonstrate significant potential for sensitive and specific CRC detection.
• Advancements in aptamer selection and integration into diverse sensing platforms enhance diagnostic capabilities.
• Convergence with microfluidics and wearable tech enables intelligent, miniaturized diagnostic systems.

Conclusions:

• Aptamer-based diagnostics represent a significant advancement in the early detection of colorectal cancer.
• Further research and interdisciplinary collaboration are crucial for clinical translation and point-of-care implementation.
• This review provides a roadmap for future research in aptamer-based CRC diagnostics and precision oncology.