ABSTRACT
Aptamers are randomly selected from single-stranded oligonucleotide libraries by systematic evolution of ligands technology exponential enrichment (SELEX). They bind to various targets like metal ions, nucleic acids, proteins, small organic compounds, and even entire organisms. Candidate aptamers are predicted to be highly effective in producing targeting effects for certain diseases like cancer, macular degeneration, acute coronary syndrome, von Willebrand factor related disorder disease and so on. Aptamers may also serve as drug-carriers helping drugs to be released in specific regions and tissues. Compared with other types of targeting ligands, aptamers have an array of unique advantageous features, which make them promising to develop aptamer-drug conjugates (ApDCs) for targeted-oriented therapy. Deep investigation into ApDCs discovery and development may promote the process of biological and biomedical analysis. In this review, we summarize the advances of drug discovery and drug delivery using aptamers in basic and clinical trials in recent years, and meanwhile analyze its advantages and challenges in biomedical studies.