Bioengineered aptamer-nanoconjugates for cancer theragnosis

AbstractEarly detection and treatment of cancer is of global interest as cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. As the survival rate of cancer patients is closely related to its detection at an early stage, there is an urgent need to develop detection techniques that are fast, reliable, and easily available. Aptamers are single stranded DNA- and RNA- based oligonucleotides that can bind to their targets with high affinity and specificity. Their small size, excellent chemical stability, and low immunogenicity enable them to become alternatives to antibodies in cancer theragnostic approaches with cancer imaging and therapy applications.Purpose of review: In this review, we discuss the role of aptamer-nanomaterials conjugates as novel molecular tools for enhanced diagnosis (biosensing and nano-imaging) and therapy (drug delivery) of cancer cells.
Source: Molecular and Cellular Toxicology - Category: Cytology Source Type: research