Abstract

APTAMER: A MIRACLE TOOL FOR TARGETED DRUG DELIVERY

Asutosh Parhi* and Manoj Panda

Abstract

Aptamers are oligonucleotides (ss-RNA or DNA) having high affinity and specificity in identifying the target molecules, by folding into 3-D structures. They are identified from an initial library containing 1013 - 1016 random ssDNA or ssRNA sequences through an in vitro selection process termed SELEX (systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment). Aptamers are different from antibodies, Aptamers are having novel properties, such as highly selective and specific target recognition and binding. Aptamers have advantages on antibodies like such as easier and more economical to produce; compared to antibodies, toxicity and low immunogenicity of particular antigens do not interfere with the aptamer selection; having greater specificity and affinity; can easiy be modified chemically to yield improved, custom tailored properties, much more stable at ambient temperature. These properties make aptamers ideal candidates for use in molecular medicine to cure of diseases, particularly cancer and infectious diseases.

Keywords: .