DNA aptamer-based molecular nanoconstructions and nanodevices for diagnostics and therapy

Abstract DNA aptamers are oligonucleotides with high affinity and specificity to a target. Aptamers are used as molecular recognition elements in nanoscience, nanotechnology, and nanomedicine. Functionalizing DNA nanoconstructions with aptamers provides unique properties and allows exciting applications. Multicenter binding of the protein target imparts extremely high affinity, allowing highly sensitive recognition in biosensors. Nanoconstructions with several homofunctional aptamers have favorable pharmacokinetics, compared to unmodified aptamers. Nanoconstructions with heterofunctional aptamers are of use in targeted drug delivery. One more promising direction is to create nanodevices with controllable function, where the modular structure allows switching on or off of an activity in response to target binding. This chapter provides a thorough discussion of DNA aptamer-based nanoconstructions and nanodevices. The challenges and the opportunities in the field are also discussed.