Aptamer-assembled nanomaterials for biosensing and biomedical applications

Small. 2011 Sep 5;7(17):2428-36. doi: 10.1002/smll.201100250. Epub 2011 Jul 4.

Abstract

Aptamers represent a class of single-stranded DNA or RNA oligonucleotides that play important roles in biosensing and biomedical applications. However, aptamers can gain more flexibility as molecular recognition tools by taking advantage of the unique chemical and physical properties provided by nanomaterials. Such aptamer-nanomaterial conjugates are having an increasing impact in the fields of biosensing, bioimaging, and therapy. The recent advances and limitations of aptamer-assembled nanomaterials in biosensing and biomedical applications are briefly introduced and discussed.

Keywords: aptamers; biomedical; biosensing; imaging; nanomaterials.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aptamers, Nucleotide / chemistry*
  • Biosensing Techniques / methods*
  • Colorimetry
  • Gold
  • Graphite / chemistry
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / chemistry
  • Quantum Dots
  • Silicon Dioxide / chemistry

Substances

  • Aptamers, Nucleotide
  • Nanotubes, Carbon
  • Gold
  • Silicon Dioxide
  • Graphite