Unveiling the Theranostic Potential of Aptamer Functionalized Materials for Viral Infections

Aptamers are short single-stranded nucleic acids or peptides that can bind to specific targets with high affinity and specificity, making them promising tools for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Their ability to detect and neutralize viral pathogens with precision has garnered significant attention, particularly in the development of innovative theranostic strategies.

This review provides a comprehensive overview of aptamers, detailing their unique features and various types. It explores the theranostic potential of aptamers and functionalized aptamers in the diagnosis and treatment of viral pathogens. Additionally, a comparative analysis is presented, highlighting the advantages and limitations of aptamer-based detection methods in contrast to other conventional techniques for the identification of viral pathogens.

The results of this review highlight the significant potential of aptamers in the detection and therapy. Aptamers show high specificity, sensitivity, and versatility compared to conventional diagnostic methods. Functionalized aptamers further enhance their applicability by improving target recognition and therapeutic efficiency.

The comparative analysis indicates that aptamer-based approaches offer advantages such as rapid detection, cost-effectiveness, and adaptability for various viral targets.

Overall, the findings support the growing interest in aptamers as promising tools for theranostic applications in virology. However, further research is needed on in vivo applications and clinical translation to establish their efficacy in real-world settings.