Abstract
Aptamers are a special class of nucleic acid molecules that are beginning to be investigated for clinical use. These small RNA/DNA molecules can form secondary and tertiary structures capable of specifically binding proteins or other cellular targets; they are essentially a chemical equivalent of antibodies. Aptamers have the advantage of being highly specific, relatively small in size, and non-immunogenic. Since the discovery of aptamers in the early 1990s, great efforts have been made to make them clinically relevant for diseases like cancer, HIV, and macular degeneration. In the last two decades, many aptamers have been clinically developed as inhibitors for targets such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and thrombin. The first aptamer based therapeutic was FDA approved in 2004 for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration and several other aptamers are currently being evaluated in clinical trials. With advances in targeted-therapy, imaging, and nanotechnology, aptamers are readily considered as potential targeting ligands because of their chemical synthesis and ease of modification for conjugation. Preclinical studies using aptamer-siRNA chimeras and aptamer targeted nanoparticle therapeutics have been very successful in mouse models of cancer and HIV. In summary aptamers are in several stages of development, from pre-clinical studies to clinical trials and even as FDA approved therapeutics. In this review, we will discuss the current state of aptamers in clinical trials as well as some promising aptamers in pre-clinical development.
Keywords: Aptamers, clinical trial, imaging, nanoparticle, oligonucleotides, SELEX, siRNA, target therapy
Current Medicinal Chemistry
Title: Nucleic Acid Aptamers: Clinical Applications and Promising New Horizons
Volume: 18 Issue: 27
Author(s): X. Ni, M. Castanares, A. Mukherjee and S.E. Lupold
Affiliation:
Keywords: Aptamers, clinical trial, imaging, nanoparticle, oligonucleotides, SELEX, siRNA, target therapy
Abstract: Aptamers are a special class of nucleic acid molecules that are beginning to be investigated for clinical use. These small RNA/DNA molecules can form secondary and tertiary structures capable of specifically binding proteins or other cellular targets; they are essentially a chemical equivalent of antibodies. Aptamers have the advantage of being highly specific, relatively small in size, and non-immunogenic. Since the discovery of aptamers in the early 1990s, great efforts have been made to make them clinically relevant for diseases like cancer, HIV, and macular degeneration. In the last two decades, many aptamers have been clinically developed as inhibitors for targets such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and thrombin. The first aptamer based therapeutic was FDA approved in 2004 for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration and several other aptamers are currently being evaluated in clinical trials. With advances in targeted-therapy, imaging, and nanotechnology, aptamers are readily considered as potential targeting ligands because of their chemical synthesis and ease of modification for conjugation. Preclinical studies using aptamer-siRNA chimeras and aptamer targeted nanoparticle therapeutics have been very successful in mouse models of cancer and HIV. In summary aptamers are in several stages of development, from pre-clinical studies to clinical trials and even as FDA approved therapeutics. In this review, we will discuss the current state of aptamers in clinical trials as well as some promising aptamers in pre-clinical development.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Ni X., Castanares M., Mukherjee A. and Lupold S.E., Nucleic Acid Aptamers: Clinical Applications and Promising New Horizons, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2011; 18 (27) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986711797189600
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986711797189600 |
Print ISSN 0929-8673 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-533X |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Advances in Medicinal Chemistry: From Cancer to Chronic Diseases.
The broad spectrum of the issue will provide a comprehensive overview of emerging trends, novel therapeutic interventions, and translational insights that impact modern medicine. The primary focus will be diseases of global concern, including cancer, chronic pain, metabolic disorders, and autoimmune conditions, providing a broad overview of the advancements in ...read more
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Non-Infectious Inflammatory Diseases: Focus on Clinical Implications
The Special Issue covers the results of the studies on cellular and molecular mechanisms of non-infectious inflammatory diseases, in particular, autoimmune rheumatic diseases, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and other age-related disorders such as type II diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, etc. Review and research articles as well as methodology papers that summarize ...read more
Chalcogen-modified nucleic acid analogues
Chalcogen-modified nucleosides, nucleotides and oligonucleotides have been of great interest to scientific research for many years. The replacement of oxygen in the nucleobase, sugar or phosphate backbone by chalcogen atoms (sulfur, selenium, tellurium) gives these biomolecules unique properties resulting from their altered physical and chemical properties. The continuing interest in ...read more
Current advances in inherited cardiomyopathy
Describe in detail all novel advances in multimodality imaging related to inherited cardiomyopathy diagnosis and prognosis. Shed light to deeper phenotypic characterization. Acknowledge recent advances in genetics, genomics and precision medicineread more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Statins And Stroke
Current Medicinal Chemistry Herb-drug Interactions Involving Drug Metabolizing Enzymes and Transporters
Current Drug Metabolism Environmental Factors and Hypertension
Current Pharmaceutical Design Lower Sodium Intake and Renal Protective Effects
Current Hypertension Reviews Imaging Techniques as an Aid in the Early Detection of Cardiac Amyloidosis
Current Pharmaceutical Design Multitarget Network Strategies to Influence Memory and Forgetting: The Ras/Mapk Pathway as a Novel Option
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry How to Investigate the Vascular Changes in Resistant Hypertension
Current Hypertension Reviews Nocturnal Hypertension, Nondipping Phenomenon and Target Organ Damage in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients - The Bad and the Worse
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews Effect of Aging On Angiogenesis and Arteriogenesis
Current Cardiology Reviews The GH/IGF-1 Axis and Heart Failure
Current Cardiology Reviews Dietary Potassium in Cardiovascular Prevention: Nutritional and Clinical Implications
Current Medicinal Chemistry - Immunology, Endocrine & Metabolic Agents Metabolomics for Personalized Nutrition Research and Clinical Applications
Current Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine Prevention of Macrovascular Disease in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: Blockade of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System
Current Diabetes Reviews Multimodality Imaging for Interventional Cardiology
Current Pharmaceutical Design Vitamin D and Sepsis: From Associations to Causal Connections
Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets (Discontinued) New Aspects of Statin Safety
Immunology, Endocrine & Metabolic Agents in Medicinal Chemistry (Discontinued) What is Tobacco Smoke? Sociocultural Dimensions of the Association with Cardiovascular Risk
Current Pharmaceutical Design Alcohol Induced Hepato Cardiotoxicity and Oxidative Damage in Rats: The Protective Effect of n-butanol Extract of Green Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze)
Cardiovascular & Hematological Disorders-Drug Targets Management of Chemotherapy Induced Cardiomyopathy
Current Cardiology Reviews Rac-1 as a New Therapeutic Target in Cerebro- and Cardio-Vascular Diseases
Current Drug Targets