Recent Advancements of Aptamers in Cancer Therapy

Abstract

Aptamers are chemical antibodies possessing the capability of overcoming the limitations posed by conventional antibodies, particularly for diagnostic, therapeutic, and theranostic applications in cancer. The ease of chemical modifications or functionalization, including conjugations with nucleic acids, drug molecules, and nanoparticles, has made these aptamers to gain priorities in research. In this Mini-review, various reports on therapeutics with aptamer-functionalized nanomaterials for controlled or multistep drug release, targeted delivery, stimuliresponsive drug release, etc. are discussed. In the case of nucleicacid-conjugated aptamers, DNA nanotrains and DNA beacons are discussed in terms of the possibility of multidrug loading for chemotherapy and gene therapy. Developments with electrochemical aptasensors and signal-enhanced immune aptasensors are also discussed. Further, the future scope of aptamer technology in cancer theranostics and the prevailing limitations are discussed.

Aptamer-Based Smart Targeting and Spatial Trigger–Response Drug-Delivery Systems for Anticancer Therapy

“…The future of aptamer-based drug-delivery systems for cancer therapy hinges on overcoming these challenges [252]. Ongoing efforts to enhance aptamer technology will likely involve interdisciplinary collaborations, incorporating insights from materials science, nanotechnology, and bioengineering [253]. Advances in aptamer modifications, bioconjugation techniques, and delivery systems will be pivotal in addressing the aforementioned limitations.…”

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

“…Aptamers, serving as targeting ligands, are often encapsulated into nanoparticle platforms, which act as carriers for the therapeutic payload [ 81 ]. This approach has been applied across various therapeutic modalities, encompassing chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and beyond [ 82 ]. The formation of these aptamer–nanoparticle systems involves diverse methods, commonly featuring the direct attachment of aptamers to drugs using various cleavable or non-cleavable linkers [ 80 , 83 ].…”

Inhibition of STAT3: A promising approach to enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapy in medulloblastoma

“…Also, new ways of targeting STAT3, like aptamers and oligonucleotides, have shown promise in reducing tumor growth. While causing minimal damage, STAT3 also shows much promise as a personalized target, given its involvement in immune infiltration and drug response in cancer [ 159 , 160 ].…”