Nanoparticles-assisted SELEX strategies for aptamer screening: a comprehensive review

Area of Science:

• Biomedicine and Bioanalytics
• Molecular Biology
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Aptamers, short oligonucleotide sequences, are promising alternatives to antibodies for biomedical and bioanalytical applications.
• The Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX) is a key method for aptamer selection.
• Traditional SELEX faces challenges, leading to the development of advanced variants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically review the application of nanoparticles in aptamer screening and selection.
• To provide a comprehensive overview of nanoparticle-mediated SELEX.
• To discuss challenges and potential solutions for improving nanoparticle-mediated SELEX.

Main Methods:

• Review of aptamer structural characteristics and conventional SELEX.
• Analysis of various advanced SELEX variants, focusing on nanoparticle-mediated SELEX.
• Detailed examination of nanoparticle roles (supporting matrices, indicators, label-free characterization) in SELEX.

Main Results:

• Nanoparticles (e.g., GO, GNPs, MNPs) significantly enhance SELEX by facilitating library immobilization, real-time monitoring, and label-free characterization.
• Nanoparticle-mediated SELEX is effective for screening aptamers against diverse analytes including toxins, viruses, and tumor markers.
• This approach offers a holistic view of nanoparticle integration into the aptamer selection process.

Conclusions:

• Nanoparticle-mediated SELEX represents a significant advancement in aptamer technology for various applications.
• The review highlights the critical role of nanoparticles in overcoming traditional SELEX limitations.
• Future perspectives address challenges and propose solutions for further optimization of this approach.