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Review
. 2016 Nov 25;21(12):1613.
doi: 10.3390/molecules21121613.

Multivalent Aptamers: Versatile Tools for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Applications

Mariya Vorobyeva  1 , Pavel Vorobjev  2 , Alya Venyaminova  3
Affiliations
Review

Multivalent Aptamers: Versatile Tools for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Applications

Mariya Vorobyeva et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

Nucleic acid aptamers generated through an in vitro selection are currently extensively applied as very valuable biomolecular tools thanks to their prominent advantages. Diversity of spatial structures, ease of production through chemical synthesis and a large variety of chemical modifications make aptamers convenient building blocks for the generation of multifunctional constructs. An opportunity to combine different aptamer functionalities with other molecules of interest such as reporter groups, nanoparticles, chemotherapeutic agents, siRNA or antisense oligonucleotides provides a widest range of applications of multivalent aptamers. The present review summarizes approaches to the design of multivalent aptamers, various examples of multifunctional constructs and the prospects of employing them as components of biosensors, probes for affinity capture, tools for cell research and potential therapeutic candidates.

Keywords: SELEX; application; aptamers; conjugates; design; multivalency.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The founding sponsors had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, and in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic summary of approaches to multivalent aptamers design.
Figure 2
Figure 2
A general scheme of RCA-based DeNAno method for obtaining cell-specific DNA superstructures [71].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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