Nucleic Acid-Based Aptamers in Therapeutics and Diagnostics

Nucleic acid‐based aptamers are short DNA or RNA sequences able to adopt specific three‐dimensional architectures. Thanks to this peculiar folding, aptamers can recognize with high affinity and specificity different molecular targets from ions or small molecules to proteins, viruses, bacteria, and whole cells. Aptamers are generally identified from pools of random sequence oligonucleotides through a reiterative fishing procedure based on affinity chromatography known as Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX). Also, many biologically active aptamers are G-rich sequences and thus able to fold into peculiar G-quadruplex structures. The high affinity and selectivity shown for a selected target, as well as the wide range of molecular targets, make aptamers a valuable alternative to antibodies in several applications, from therapeutics (as drugs or drug-delivery systems) to diagnostic and sensing devices. Compared to antibodies, aptamers indeed exhibit significant advantages in terms of size, non-immunogenicity, remarkable stability, and easy synthetic modifications.

Oligonucleotide-based aptamers have become an attractive tool not only in molecular biology research but also in modern medicine as precision instruments for molecular diagnostics and therapy. Numerous improved methodologies for their selections and various applications, such as bioimaging, diagnoses, molecular therapies, and nanotechnology, have been reported to date.

We would like to cordially invite all scientists engaged in this research field to contribute to the success of this Research Topic aiming at emphasizing the wonderful world surrounding nucleic acid-based aptamers in their multiple applications.

This Research topic is particularly focused on the present status and the prospects of aptamers as molecular recognition elements from basic research toward different applications highlighting problems, solutions, and future directions in the development of aptamers.

This Research Topic will concentrate on the latest developments in nucleic acid-based aptamer chemistry. We encourage authors to submit original research and review articles dealing with all the aspects of aptamer research, including aptamer selection technology, engineering/modification strategies, characterization, development, and/or application of aptamers in therapeutics and diagnostics. Due to their chemical nature, aptamers are amenable to chemical modifications to improve their pharmacokinetic properties in view of possible clinical development. This aspect is very attractive, and manuscripts focused on it will be particularly appreciated. Also, their use in drug-delivery systems or as decoration of nanoplatform is considered of particular interest for the scope of this Research Topic.