Abstract
Aptamers that are evolved by the SELEX procedure (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential enrichment) can specifically recognize and tightly bind their cognate targets by means of well-defined secondary and three-dimensional structures. In comparison to antibodies, nucleic acid-based aptamers offer some exciting advantages, including the potential for chemical synthesis, convenient modification, chemical versatility, stability and lack of immunogenicity. During the past 20 years, aptamers have been developed for various applications such as diagnostics, drug development, target validation and therapeutics. Aptamers targeting cell surface proteins are being explored as promising delivery vehicles to target a distinct disease or tissue in a cell-type-specific manner. In this review, we summarize the recent developments in creatively using cell-internalizing aptamers as drug delivery escorts to deliver, enhance and modulate the activity of other therapeutic agents, including chemical drugs, toxins, small interfering RNAs and nanoparticle-encapsulated drugs. Specifically, several attractive aptamer-mediated cell-type specific siRNA delivery systems are highlighted, and their promise in clinical development is also discussed.
Keywords: SELEX, cell-internalizing aptamer, escort aptamer, targeting delivery, cell-type specific delivery system, small interfering RNA, RNA interference
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry
Title: The Therapeutic Potential of Cell-Internalizing Aptamers
Volume: 9 Issue: 12
Author(s): Jiehua Zhou and John J. Rossi
Affiliation:
Keywords: SELEX, cell-internalizing aptamer, escort aptamer, targeting delivery, cell-type specific delivery system, small interfering RNA, RNA interference
Abstract: Aptamers that are evolved by the SELEX procedure (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential enrichment) can specifically recognize and tightly bind their cognate targets by means of well-defined secondary and three-dimensional structures. In comparison to antibodies, nucleic acid-based aptamers offer some exciting advantages, including the potential for chemical synthesis, convenient modification, chemical versatility, stability and lack of immunogenicity. During the past 20 years, aptamers have been developed for various applications such as diagnostics, drug development, target validation and therapeutics. Aptamers targeting cell surface proteins are being explored as promising delivery vehicles to target a distinct disease or tissue in a cell-type-specific manner. In this review, we summarize the recent developments in creatively using cell-internalizing aptamers as drug delivery escorts to deliver, enhance and modulate the activity of other therapeutic agents, including chemical drugs, toxins, small interfering RNAs and nanoparticle-encapsulated drugs. Specifically, several attractive aptamer-mediated cell-type specific siRNA delivery systems are highlighted, and their promise in clinical development is also discussed.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Zhou Jiehua and Rossi J. John, The Therapeutic Potential of Cell-Internalizing Aptamers, Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry 2009; 9 (12) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156802609789630893
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156802609789630893 |
Print ISSN 1568-0266 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4294 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Chemistry Based on Natural Products for Therapeutic Purposes
The development of new pharmaceuticals for a wide range of medical conditions has long relied on the identification of promising natural products (NPs). There are over sixty percent of cancer, infectious illness, and CNS disease medications that include an NP pharmacophore, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Since NP ...read more
Current Trends in Drug Discovery Based on Artificial Intelligence and Computer-Aided Drug Design
Drug development discovery has faced several challenges over the years. In fact, the evolution of classical approaches to modern methods using computational methods, or Computer-Aided Drug Design (CADD), has shown promising and essential results in any drug discovery campaign. Among these methods, molecular docking is one of the most notable ...read more
Drug Discovery in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
In the age of artificial intelligence (AI), we have witnessed a significant boom in AI techniques for drug discovery. AI techniques are increasingly integrated and accelerating the drug discovery process. These developments have not only attracted the attention of academia and industry but also raised important questions regarding the selection ...read more
From Biodiversity to Chemical Diversity: Focus of Flavonoids
Flavonoids are the largest group of polyphenols, plant secondary metabolites arising from the essential aromatic amino acid phenylalanine (or more rarely from tyrosine) via the phenylpropanoid pathway. The flavan nucleus is the basic 15-carbon skeleton of flavonoids (C6-C3-C6), which consists of two phenyl rings (A and B) and a heterocyclic ...read 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
-
Nanomedicinal Approach of Getting Across the Brood-Brain Barrier with Nanomedicinal Nanoparticles
Current Medicinal Chemistry Can Targeting the Incretin Pathway Dampen RAGE-Mediated Events in Diabetic Nephropathy?
Current Drug Targets Targeting the Perpetrator: Breast Cancer Stem Cell Therapeutics
Current Drug Targets NPY and NPY Receptors in Vascular Remodeling
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry The Bax Inhibitor-1 (BI-1) Family in Apoptosis and Tumorigenesis
Current Molecular Medicine Anti-Apoptotic Actions of Insulin-Like Growth Factors: Lessons from Development and Implications in Neoplastic Cell Transformation
Current Pharmaceutical Design Protein Kinase C Isozymes as Potential Targets for Anticancer Therapy
Current Cancer Drug Targets Gap Junctions as Targets for Cancer Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy
Current Drug Targets Src Family Kinases in the Central Nervous System: Their Emerging Role in Pathophysiology of Migraine and Neuropathic Pain
Current Neuropharmacology Patented HIV-1 Integrase Inhibitors (1998-2005)
Recent Patents on Anti-Infective Drug Discovery Adhesion Molecules in Lung Cancer: Implications in the Pathogenesis and Management
Current Pharmaceutical Design siRNA Delivery Using Nanocarriers – An Efficient Tool for Gene Silencing
Current Gene Therapy New Insights into the Molecular Resistance Mechanisms of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
Current Cancer Drug Targets The X-ray Crystallographic Structure of Human EAT2 (SH2D1B)
Protein & Peptide Letters Recent Advances in Semisynthesis, Biosynthesis, Biological Activities,Mode of Action, and Structure-Activity Relationship of Podophyllotoxins:An Update (2008-2010)
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Insight into p95HER2 in Breast Cancer: Molecular Mechanisms and Targeted Therapies
Recent Patents on DNA & Gene Sequences Current Advances in Retroviral Gene Therapy
Current Gene Therapy Anlotinib-Induced Hypertension: Current Concepts and Future Prospects
Current Pharmaceutical Design Treatment of High-Grade Pelvic-Type Serous Carcinomas (Ovary, Fallopian Tube and Peritoneum): Current Therapeutic Paradigms, Prospects, and Challenges
Current Cancer Therapy Reviews Structural Characterization of Recombinant Therapeutic Proteins by Circular Dichroism
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology