The Application of Aptamers in Pharmacological Drug Development and Therapeutic

Abstract

As significant representatives of functional nucleic acids (FNAs), nucleic acid-based aptamers regulate various biological processes, playing a fundamental role in drug development and therapy. Aptamers are single-stranded nucleic acid molecules that can fold into unique 3D structures, allowing for specific binding to a wide range of targets. Their properties make them promising tools in therapeutics, diagnostics, and drug development. This review aims to summarize the current understanding of aptamers, their applications in pharmacology and medicine, and their potential as therapeutic agents, biosensors, and targets for drug discovery. We examined recent advances in aptamer selection technologies, including SELEX and its variants, and explored modifications to enhance aptamer stability and specificity. The review also covers the functional roles of aptamers in targeting proteins, metabolites, and regulatory riboswitches, with emphasis on their applications in disease treatment and diagnostics. Aptamers exhibit high affinity and specificity comparable to antibodies but offer advantages in synthesis, modification, and delivery. Several aptamer-based drugs have gained FDA approval, and novel therapeutic and diagnostic applications continue to emerge, including biosensors for heavy metals, cancer biomarkers, and viral pathogens like SARS-CoV-2.