Aptamer functionalized nanomaterials for biomedical applications: Recent advances and new horizons

Abstract With the advancement of functional nanomaterials and aptamer selection technologies, aptamer functionalized nanomaterials (AFMs) open various methods to design new sensing and imaging technologies. In this perspective, several sensitivity-enhancement methods alongside a wide range of smart nanomaterials have been incorporated to construct new AFMs to use in the biomedical field. This review first introduces the conjunction strategies for synthesizing AFMs. Then, the versatile roles of nanomaterials in advanced AFMs are discussed, including optical indicators, conducting transducer, carriers, catalysts, and other functions. Representative examples of biomedical applications are reviewed with emphasis on drug delivery, bioimaging, and aptasensors. Finally, some challenges and opportunities in this emerging field are presented.