Aptamers: a novel targeted theranostic platform for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an extremely challenging disease with a high mortality rate and a short overall survival time. The poor prognosis can be explained by aggressive tumor growth, late diagnosis, and therapy resistance. Consistent efforts have been made focusing on early tumor detection and novel drug development. Various strategies aim at increasing target specificity or local enrichment of chemotherapeutics as well as imaging agents in tumor tissue. Aptamers have the potential to provide early detection and permit anti-cancer therapy with significantly reduced side effects. These molecules are in-vitro selected single-stranded oligonucleotides that form stable threedimensional structures. They are capable of binding to a variety of molecular targets with high affinity and specificity. Several properties such as high binding affinity, the in vitro chemical process of selection, a variety of chemical modifications of molecular platforms for diverse function, non-immunoreactivity, modification of bioavailability, and manipulation of pharmacokinetics make aptamers attractive targets compared to conventional cell-specific ligands. To explore the potential of aptamers for early diagnosis and targeted therapy of PDAC-as single agents and in combination with radiotherapy-we summarize the generation process of aptamers and their application as biosensors, biomarker detection tools, targeted imaging tracers, and drug-delivery carriers. We are furthermore discussing the current implementation aptamers in clinical trials, their limitations and possible future utilization.

Aptamers for the Delivery of Plant-Based Compounds: A Review

“…Sanjanwala et al conducted a review on aptamers and nanobodies as ligands for targeted drug delivery in cancer, particularly mentioning drug delivery systems utilizing the AS1411 aptamer [ 113 ]. Yin et al reviewed drug delivery systems using aptamers as functionalizing agents for therapeutics in various types of cancer [ 144 ], and Li et al reviewed the application of aptamers as drug-delivery carriers related to adenocarcinoma [ 145 ]. These reviews mention the delivery system developed by Wang et al, specifically a micelle containing triptolide functionalized with the AS1411 aptamer, demonstrating the superior efficacy of the aptamer-functionalized micelle compared with the non-functionalized micelle in tumor growth in vivo [ 146 ].…”

Aptamers as an approach to targeted cancer therapy

“…Due to their exceptional specificity for the target and the wide range of previously mentioned properties, aptamers are highly adaptable and may be efficient in overcoming radio resistance. Several radiosensitizers, such as metal formulations, siRNAs, and nucleoside analogs, can be coupled with aptamers for targeted delivery into cancer cells to sensitize radiotherapy [103]. Based on information studies, metal (nano) formulations of the AS1411 and anti-MUC1 aptamers could potentially act as radiosensitizers in cancer treatment.…”

Pore-engineered nanoarchitectonics for cancer therapy

“…Cancer targeting ligands include cell organelle targeting, cell membrane targeting, and multitargeting. The different targeting moieties include antibodies 210,211 , aptamers 212 , peptides 213 , saccharides 214 , proteins 215 and vitamins 216 . For example, a previous study has conjugated antiHER2/neu mAb on the surfaces of MSNs to target breast cancer cells 217 .…”