Open AccessAptamers in Therapeutics
Author(s) -
Abhishek Parashar
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of clinical and diagnostic research
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2249-782X
pISSN - 0973-709X
DOI - 10.7860/jcdr/2016/18712.7922
Subject(s) - aptamer , systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment , computational biology , monoclonal antibody , biology , chemistry , virology , antibody , microbiology and biotechnology , rna , immunology , biochemistry , gene
Aptamers are single strand DNA or RNA molecules, selected by an iterative process known as Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX). Due to various advantages of aptamers such as high temperature stability, animal free, cost effective production and its high affinity and selectivity for its target make them attractive alternatives to monoclonal antibody for use in diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Aptamer has been generated against vesicular endothelial growth factor 165 involved in age related macular degeneracy. Macugen was the first FDA approved aptamer based drug that was commercialized. Later other aptamers were also developed against blood clotting proteins, cancer proteins, antibody E, agents involved in diabetes nephropathy, autoantibodies involved in autoimmune disorders, etc. Aptamers have also been developed against viruses and could work with other antiviral agents in treating infections.