Emerging techniques employed in aptamer-based diagnostic tests

Abstract

Since aptamers were reported in 1990, research into the applications of aptamers, particularly diagnostic applications, has been growing. Aptamers can act as recognition elements instead of antibodies. In this regard, aptamers have unique characteristics because they are composed of nucleic acids. Intra- and intermolecular interactions of nucleic acids can be easily tailored following straightforward hybridization rules. Nucleic acids can be enzymatically replicated and their sequences can be determined using high-throughput methods. Using these properties, ligand-induced structural change-based aptamer sensors for homogeneous assays, polymerase- and/or nuclease-combined aptamer sensors for ultrasensitive assays, and microarray/next-generation sequencing-based aptamer sensors for multiplexed assays have been developed. This article reviews these unique aptamer sensors, demonstrating their great potential for diagnostic applications.

Keywords::

• aptamer
• homogeneous assay
• microarray
• multiplexed assay
• next-generation sequencing
• nuclease
• polymerase
• structural change
• ultrasensitive assay

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Key issues

• Aptamers have several advantages over antibodies because aptamers are composed of nucleic acids.

• Ligand-induced structural changes of aptamers have been utilized for homogeneous assays.

• Aptamer-based ultrasensitive assays have been developed using polymerases and/or nucleases.

• Massive DNA sequence analyzers have been utilized for aptamer-based multiplexed assays.

• Using glucose sensors combined with aptamer-based sensors, simple, portable, and low-cost aptamer-based points-of-care testing might be developed for commercialization.

• Aptamer-based multiplexed assays might be commercialized for central laboratory testing.

• For the development of commercial aptamer sensors, the variation of aptamer-target pairs should be increased.

• Identification of aptamers from in silico or genomic information would contribute to an increase in the variation of aptamer-target pairs.

Notes