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Radiolabeled Aptamers for Bioimaging Applications in Oncology and Infectious Diseases
Najeeb Ullah1, Tracy Ann Bruce-Tagoe1, George Adu Asamoah1
1Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA.
Journal of Labelled Compounds & Radiopharmaceuticals
|December 10, 2025
Summary
Radiolabeled aptamers offer precise bioimaging for early cancer detection and infection tracking. Further research aims to overcome challenges like rapid clearance and immunogenicity for improved clinical use.
Area of Science:
- Molecular imaging
- Biotechnology
- Radiochemistry
Background:
- Radiolabeled aptamers are single-stranded oligonucleotides used as molecular probes for bioimaging.
- They are labeled with radionuclides (e.g., 99mTc, 18F, 68Ga) for SPECT and PET imaging.
- Their specificity, stability, and clearance properties make them valuable tools.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in radiolabeled aptamers for bioimaging.
- To discuss their applications in cancer theranostics and infectious disease imaging.
- To highlight research directions addressing current limitations.
Main Methods:
- Development of novel radiolabeling strategies.
- Enhancement of aptamer biostability and pharmacokinetics.
- Exploration of nanoparticle conjugation and hybrid bioimaging techniques.
Main Results:
- Radiolabeled aptamers demonstrate potential for early cancer detection and therapeutic response monitoring.
- They enable real-time tracking of infectious diseases.
- Improved imaging sensitivity and optimized biodistribution are key outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Radiolabeled aptamers are versatile probes with significant potential in theranostics and infectious disease imaging.
- Addressing challenges like renal clearance and immunogenicity is crucial for clinical translation.
- Emerging strategies promise to further advance the field of aptamer-based bioimaging.
