Latest progress in the application of SELEX technology and aptamers in biomedicine

Aptamers are short, single-stranded DNA/RNA oligonucleotides capable of binding to target molecules with high affinity and specificity. The process of selecting aptamers is called Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX).

Due to their inherent advantages, aptamers have been widely applied in disease diagnosis, targeted drug delivery, and therapeutic uses. To date, significant achievements have been made in aptamer selection, modification, and application. However, very few aptamer products have successfully entered clinical and industrial use. Furthermore, obtaining high-affinity aptamers in a more efficient manner remains a challenge.

Therefore, a comprehensive review of the current shortcomings and achievements in nucleic acid aptamer-related technologies is of great significance. This review introduces the limitations and progress in aptamer selection, compares different methods used in aptamer kinetic characterization, and discusses the promotion and development of aptamer clinical applications.

Reference：

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29036890/