Recent progress in aptamer-based microfluidics for the detection of circulating tumor cells and extracellular vesicles / 药物分析学报

Liquid biopsy is a technology that exhibits potential to detect cancer early,monitor therapies,and predict cancer prognosis due to its unique characteristics,including noninvasive sampling and real-time analysis.Circulating tumor cells(CTCs)and extracellular vesicles(EVs)are two important components of circu-lating targets,carrying substantial disease-related molecular information and playing a key role in liquid biopsy.Aptamers are single-stranded oligonucleotides with superior affinity and specificity,and they can bind to targets by folding into unique tertiary structures.Aptamer-based microfluidic platforms offer new ways to enhance the purity and capture efficiency of CTCs and EVs by combining the advantages of microfluidic chips as isolation platforms and aptamers as recognition tools.In this review,we first briefly introduce some new strategies for aptamer discovery based on traditional and aptamer-based micro-fluidic approaches.Then,we subsequently summarize the progress of aptamer-based microfluidics for CTC and EV detection.Finally,we offer an outlook on the future directional challenges of aptamer-based microfluidics for circulating targets in clinical applications.

Recent progress of aptamer‒drug conjugates in cancer therapy

Aptamers are single-stranded DNA or RNA sequences that can specifically bind with the target protein or molecule via specific secondary structures. Compared to antibody-drug conjugates (ADC), aptamer‒drug conjugate (ApDC) is also an efficient, targeted drug for cancer therapy with a smaller size, higher chemical stability, lower immunogenicity, faster tissue penetration, and facile engineering. Despite all these advantages, several key factors have delayed the clinical translation of ApDC, such as in vivo off-target effects and potential safety issues. In this review, we highlight the most recent progress in the development of ApDC and discuss solutions to the problems noted above.

T cell immunotherapy mediated by dual-affinity aptamer targeted liposome / 药学学报

Redirecting immune cells to the tumor cells and enhancing its anti-tumor immune response is a very promising cancer treatment strategy. AS1411 aptamers have high affinity for malignant tumors with high nucleolin expression, and cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) aptamers can specifically bind to CTLA-4, which is expressed by T cells. In this study, a dual-affinity aptamer targeted liposome (Dat. Lipo) was constructed based on AS1411 aptamer and CTLA-4 aptamer, and its immunotherapeutic effect on T cells was studied. After the aptamer was modified with cholesterol, Dat. Lipo was prepared by instillation method; its effect of redirecting T cells was determined by confocal micrographs; its T cell immunotherapy effect was evaluated by cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) and T cell penetration was evaluated by tumor spheroids. The results showed that compared with liposomes loaded with one type aptamer, Dat. Lipo could effectively promote the redirection of T cells to tumor cells; Dat. Lipo had good biosafety and immunotherapeutic effect on MCF-7 and HepG2 cells in a concentration-dependent manner; Dat. Lipo could also promote T cells to infiltrate into the tumor spheroids and enhance the immunotherapy effect of T cells in different dimensions. In summary, Dat. Lipo can use the high affinity of aptamers to redirect T cells to tumor cells, enhance the effect of immunotherapy, and has a promising application prospect in tumor therapy. This study was approved by the Examination Committee of Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan Cancer Hospital.

Preparation and Biodistribution of 131I-labeled Hepatoma Nucleic Acid Nanotrain / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

ObjectiveTo construct 131Ⅰ-labeled hepatoma nucleic acid nanotrain and to explore its feasibility as a new nuclide carrier targeting hepatoma. MethodsThree short nucleic acid chains self-assembled to a long nucleic acid chain after being annealed， and 131Ⅰ-NT was obtained by radioiodine labeling using chloramine T method. The labeling efficiency and radiochemical purity of the nanoparticles were measured by paper chromatography. The stability of the labeled products in vitro at different temperatures and different storage solvents was detected. The specific uptake of nanoparticles by hepatocellular carcinoma cells was observed by laser confocal microscopy， and the radioactive uptake ratio of 131Ⅰ-NT combined with human hepatocellular carcinoma cell HepG2 and normal hepatocyte L02 was measured. The biodistribution of 131Ⅰ-NT was obtained through injecting 131Ⅰ-NT into HepG2 tumor-bearing mice via tail vein. ResultsThe labeling rate of 131Ⅰ-NT was （93.05±0.74） %， and the radiochemical purity post purification was （98.35±0.32） %. Its radiochemical purity in PBS and pure serum at 4℃ for 24 h was （92.77±0.04） % and （89.43±0.2） %， respectively. The radioactivity uptake rate of HepG2 cells was higher than that of L02 cells after 131Ⅰ-NT was incubated with two kinds of cells for 2 h significantly. After injection of 131Ⅰ-NT through tail vein， the radioactive uptake per gram of tumor tissue were （4.9±0.55）%ID/g， （10.12±0.32）%ID/g and （4.25±0.31）%ID/g at 30 min， 1 h and 2 h， respectively. The T/M ratio was 7.33±2.04， 36.54±12.72 and 44.93±7.90 respectively. ConclusionsThe 131Ⅰ-labeled long chain nucleic acid nanotrain was constructed successfully， which possesses relatively high stability in vitro ， and high targeting ability to HepG2 cells in vitro and HepG2 tumor-bearing mouse model. Our study demonstrated that 131Ⅰ-NT may be a potential radionuclide carrier targeting human liver cancer， which provides a new idea for the targeted radionuclide diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Recent advances in quantum dots-based biosensors for antibiotics detection / 药物分析学报

Antibiotics are a category of chemical compounds used to treat bacterial infections and are widely applied in cultivation,animal husbandry,aquaculture,and pharmacy.Currently,residual antibiotics and their metabolites pose a potential risk of allergic reactions,bacterial resistance,and increased cancer incidence.Residual antibiotics and the resulting bacterial antibiotic resistance have been recognized as a global challenge that has attracted increasing attention.Therefore,monitoring antibiotics is a critical way to limit the ecological risks from antibiotic pollution.Accordingly,it is desirable to devise new analytical platforms to achieve efficient antibiotic detection with excellent sensitivity and specificity.Quantum dots(QDs)are regarded as an ideal material for use in the development of antibiotic detection biosensors.In this review,we characterize different types of QDs,such as silicon,chalcogenide,carbon,and other doped QDs,and summarize the trends in QD-based antibiotic detection.QD-based sensing applications are classified according to their recognition strategies,including molecularly imprinted polymers(MIPs),aptamers,and immunosensors.We discuss the advantages of QD-derived antibiotic sensors,including low cost,good sensitivity,excellent stability,and fast response,and illustrate the current challenges in this field.

Computer-aided aptamers screening technologies: a review / 生物工程学报

The computer information technology that has penetrated into every aspect of our lives, can not only assist the screening of drugs, but also simulate the effect of drugs. At present, computer-aided technologies have been used to screen aptamers, which play an important role in improving the screening efficiency and screening high affinity binding aptamers. This review summarized the screening methods of aptamers through computer-aided sequence evaluation, structural analysis and molecular docking.

Preliminary study of ssDNA aptamer cytotoxicity on RhD+ red blood cells / 中国输血杂志

【Objective】 To investigate the effect of ssDNA aptamer of RhD blood group antigen on erythrocyte toxicity. 【Methods】 Two full-length ssDNA aptamers(82 bp) of RhD blood group antigen were obtained by gene synthesis.Five samples of whole blood with EDTA anticoagulant were collected to prepare red blood cell suspensions (4×107/mL), which were split into 10 tubes(100 μL/tube), corresponding to 5 experimental groups and 5 controls.Two monospecific full-length ssDNA sequences (100 pmol/μL, 5μL each) were added into the experimental group, while the same amount of normal saline into the control.After treatment, the experimental group and the control were incubated for 60 min at 37℃.After washing, they were suspended in LISS solution and stored at 4℃.The experimental group and the control were set according to different time point during storage (1 h, 1 d, 3 d, 10 d and 17 d), with 5 tubes in each group.For erythrocytes in LISS suspension at different storage time, Annexin V labeled with FITC was used as a probe to label the phosphatidylserine (PS) content and Fluo-4 to label Ca2+ .The eversion of PS and the change of Ca2+ concentration in red blood cells in LISS suspensions were determined by flow cytometry. 【Results】 After incubation, all groups were examined under the light microscope.No agglutination occurred in the experimental group, while agglutination occurred in the control.Flow cytometry showed that the number of Annexin V-FITC staining cells of suspended erythrocytes at the same storage time-point was similar between the experimental group and the control, with no significant differences.In the experimental group, apoptosis rate of Annexin V cells at 10-day storage(6.06±1.38) was significantly higher than that at 1-hour storage(P<0.05), so as at 17-day storage(7.77±1.23) than 1-hour, 1-day and 3-day storage(P<0.05). The apoptosis rate of Fluo-4 AM cell in suspended RBCs at the same storage time-point was similar between the two groups(P>0.05). In the experimental group, the apoptosis rate of Fluo-4 AM cell at the 3-day, 10-day and 17-day storage was 20.84±4.16, 22.35±3.37 and 27.06±2.81, respectively(P<0.05). 【Conclusion】 ssDNA aptamer was not found to have any cytotoxic effects on red blood cells, and RhD ssDNA aptamer may be used as a material for the detection and preparation of universal blood.

Drug discovery of sclerostin inhibitors

Sclerostin, a protein secreted from osteocytes, negatively regulates the WNT signaling pathway by binding to the LRP5/6 co-receptors and further inhibits bone formation and promotes bone resorption. Sclerostin contributes to musculoskeletal system-related diseases, making it a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of WNT-related bone diseases. Additionally, emerging evidence indicates that sclerostin contributes to the development of cancers, obesity, and diabetes, suggesting that it may be a promising therapeutic target for these diseases. Notably, cardiovascular diseases are related to the protective role of sclerostin. In this review, we summarize three distinct types of inhibitors targeting sclerostin, monoclonal antibodies, aptamers, and small-molecule inhibitors, from which monoclonal antibodies have been developed. As the first-in-class sclerostin inhibitor approved by the U.S. FDA, the monoclonal antibody romosozumab has demonstrated excellent effectiveness in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis; however, it conferred high cardiovascular risk in clinical trials. Furthermore, romosozumab could only be administered by injection, which may cause compliance issues for patients who prefer oral therapy. Considering these above safety and compliance concerns, we therefore present relevant discussion and offer perspectives on the development of next-generation sclerostin inhibitors by following several ways, such as concomitant medication, artificial intelligence-based strategy, druggable modification, and bispecific inhibitors strategy.

Molecularly engineered truncated tissue factor with therapeutic aptamers for tumor-targeted delivery and vascular infarction

Selective occlusion of tumor vasculature has proven to be an effective strategy for cancer therapy. Among vascular coagulation agents, the extracellular domain of coagulation-inducing protein tissue factor, truncated tissue factor (tTF), is the most widely used. Since the truncated protein exhibits no coagulation activity and is rapidly cleared in the circulation, free tTF cannot be used for cancer treatment on its own but must be combined with other moieties. We here developed a novel, tumor-specific tTF delivery system through coupling tTF with the DNA aptamer, AS1411, which selectively binds to nucleolin receptors overexpressing on the surface of tumor vascular endothelial cells and is specifically cytotoxic to target cells. Systemic administration of the tTF-AS1411 conjugates into tumor-bearing animals induced intravascular thrombosis solely in tumors, thus reducing tumor blood supply and inducing tumor necrosis without apparent side effects. This conjugate represents a uniquely attractive candidate for the clinical translation of vessel occlusion agent for cancer therapy.

Gold nanorods-mediated efficient synergistic immunotherapy for detection and inhibition of postoperative tumor recurrence

Tumor recurrence after surgery is the main cause of treatment failure. However, the initial stage of recurrence is not easy to detect, and it is difficult to cure in the late stage. In order to improve the life quality of postoperative patients, an efficient synergistic immunotherapy was developed to achieve early diagnosis and treatment of post-surgical tumor recurrence, simultaneously. In this paper, two kinds of theranostic agents based on gold nanorods (AuNRs) platform were prepared. AuNRs and quantum dots (QDs) in one agent was used for the detection of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) technology to indicate the occurrence of

Nucleic acid aptamer-based traditional Chinese medicine application:therapy,targeting and diagnosis / 中国中药杂志

Nucleic acid aptamers, broad-spectrum target-specific single-stranded oligonucleotides, serve as molecules in targeted therapy, targeted delivery and disease diagnosis for the treatment of tumor or microbial infection and clinical detection. Due to the existence of components in the use of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), the target is difficult to concentrate and the specificity of treatment is poor. The effective components of TCM are toxic components, so a highly sensitive detection method is urgently needed to reduce the toxicity problem at the same time. The combined application of TCM and modern medical treatment strategy are difficult and cannot improve the therapeutic effect. Aptamers, advantageous in biosensors, aptamer-nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery, and aptamer-siRNA chimeras, are expected to connect Chinese medicinals with nanotechnology, diagnostic technology and combined therapies. We summarized the preparation, screening, and modification techniques of nucleic acid aptamers and the biomedical applications and advantages in therapy, targeting, and diagnosis, aiming at providing a reference for the in-depth research and development in TCM.

Towards wearable and implantable continuous drug monitoring:A review / 药物分析学报

Continuous drug monitoring is a promising alternative to current therapeutic drug monitoring strategies and has a strong potential to reshape our understanding of pharmacokinetic variability and to improve individualised therapy.This review highlights recent advances in biosensing technologies that support continuous drug monitoring in real time.We focus primarily on aptamer-based biosensors,wearable and implantable devices.Emphasis is given to the approaches employed in constructing biosensors.We pay attention to sensors'biocompatibility,calibration performance,long-term characteristics stability and measurement quality.Last,we discuss the current challenges and issues to be addressed in continuous drug monitoring to make it a promising,future tool for individualised therapy.The ongoing efforts are expected to result in fully integrated implantable drug biosensing technology.Thus,we may anticipate an era of advanced healthcare in which wearable and implantable biochips will automatically adjust drug dosing in response to patient health conditions,thus enabling the management of diseases and enhancing individualised therapy.

The effect of different guanine base number on fluorescence intensity of DNA/ silver nanoclusters / 药学实践杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of different guanine base numbers on the fluorescence intensity of DNA/ silver nanoclusters through C-G base complementary pairing, in order to explore a new method for the construction of fluorescent probe switches. Methods Designed complementary sequences of aptamer parts of a series of silver nanoclusters by using the nucleic acid base complementary pairing principle, and investigated the effect of the number of G bases exposed in the aptamer sequence on the fluorescence signal. Results Base G could enhance the fluorescence signal intensity of silver nanoclusters, and the fluorescence signal strength was positively correlated with the number of G bases. The fitting linear equation was Y=1726.1X+8972.5, r=0.9789. Conclusion This study is a great reference for the regulation of fluorescence intensity of silver nanoclusters and the design of G quadruplet aptamer fluorescent probe switch.

Determination of bisphenol A in water by truncated aptamer-fluorescence method / 预防医学

Objective@#To establish a fluorescence method based on turncated aptamer for the determination of bisphenol A in water.@*Methods@#The bisphenol A truncated aptamer containing 38 bases was selected as a recognition module, and was modified with the fluorophore 6-FAM at the 5'end. The 3'end of the complementary sequence cDNA was modified with the quencher DABCYL. The standard solutions of bisphenol A and interfering compounds were configured. The detection system was established after optimizing the number of bases in cDNA, the concentration ratio of truncated aptamer to cDNA, the incubation temperature and time, and the pH of the buffer. The specificity and recovery experiments were carried out. @*Results@#When the complementary sequence cDNA included 9 bases, the concentration ratio of the truncated aptamer to cDNA was 1:1.5, the pH value of the buffer solution was 7.5, the cDNA was incubated at 55 ℃ for 60 minutes, in the concentration range of 10-75 pmol/L, the linear regression equation was y=2 230.7x+110 825, the correlation coefficient was 0.926. The limits of detection was 3.3 pmol/L. The difference values of fluorescence intensity between tetrabromobisphenol A, estradiol, estriol, bisphenol S and bisphenol A were obviously different, so there was no significant interference to the test result. The recovery rates were 97.8%, 98.8% and 102.3% with the spiked concentrations of 20.0, 40.0 and 60.0 pmol/L. The relative standard deviations were 4.4%, 2.1% and 2.6% (n=5), respectively. @*Conclusion@#The fluorescence method based on turncated aptamer has the advantages of easy operation, high sensitivity and specificity, which can be used for the determination of bisphenol A in water.

A smart dual-drug nanosystem based on co-assembly of plant and food-derived natural products for synergistic HCC immunotherapy

Nanotechnology has emerged as an ideal approach for achieving the efficient chemo agent delivery. However, the potential toxicity and unclear internal metabolism of most nano-carriers was still a major obstacle for the clinical application. Herein, a novel "core‒shell" co-assembly carrier-free nanosystem was constructed based on natural sources of ursolic acid (UA) and polyphenol (EGCG) with the EpCAM-aptamer modification for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) synergistic treatment. As the nature products derived from food-plant, UA and EGCG had good anticancer activities and low toxicity. With the simple and "green" method, the nanodrugs had the advantages of good stability, pH-responsive and strong penetration of tumor tissues, which was expected to increase tumor cellular uptake, long circulation and effectively avoid the potential defects of traditional carriers. The nanocomplex exhibited the low cytotoxicity in the normal cells

Los aptámeros como novedosa herramienta diagnóstica y terapéutica y su potencial uso en parasitología / Aptamers as a novel diagnostic and therapeutic tool and their potential use in parasitology

Los aptámeros son secuencias de ADN o ARN de cadena sencilla que adoptan la forma de estructuras tridimensionales únicas, lo cual les permite reconocer un blanco específico con gran afinidad. Sus usos potenciales abarcan, entre otros, el diagnóstico de enfermedades, el desarrollo de nuevos agentes terapéuticos, la detección de riesgos alimentarios, la producción de biosensores, la detección de toxinas, el transporte de fármacos en el organismo y la señalización de nanopartículas. El pegaptanib es el único aptámero aprobado para uso comercial por la Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Otros aptámeros para el tratamiento de enfermedades están en la fase clínica de desarrollo. En parasitología, se destacan los estudios que se vienen realizando en Leishmania spp., con la obtención de aptámeros que reconocen la proteína de unión a poliA (LiPABP) y que pueden tener potencial utilidad en la investigación, el diagnóstico y el tratamiento de la leishmaniasis. En cuanto a la malaria, se han obtenido aptámeros que permiten identificar eritrocitos infectados e inhiben la formación de rosetas, y otros que prometen ser alternativas para el diagnóstico al detectar de forma específica la proteína lactato deshidrogenasa (PfLDH). Para Cryptosporidium parvuum se han seleccionado aptámeros que detectan ooquistes a partir de alimentos o aguas contaminadas. Para Entamoeba histolytica se han aislado dos aptámeros llamados C4 y C5, que inhiben la proliferación in vitro de los trofozoítos y tienen potencial terapéutico. Los aptámeros contra Trypanosoma cruzi inhiben la invasión de células LLC-MK2 (de riñón de mono) en un 50 a 70 % y aquellos contra T. brucei transportan moléculas tóxicas al lisosoma parasitario como una novedosa estrategia terapéutica. Los datos recopilados en esta revisión destacan los aptámeros como una alternativa para la investigación, el diagnóstico y el tratamiento contra parásitos de interés nacional.

Aptamers are single-stranded DNA or RNA sequences that adopt unique three-dimensional structures that allow them to recognize a specific target with high affinity. They can potentially be used for the diagnosis of diseases, as new therapeutic agents, for the detection of food risks, as biosensors, for the detection of toxins, and as drug carriers and nanoparticle markers, among other applications. To date, an aptamer called pegaptanib is the only aptamer approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for commercial use. Other aptamers are in different clinical stages of development for the treatment of different diseases. In parasitology, investigations carried out with parasites such as Leishmania spp. allowed the acquisition of aptamers that recognize the polyA-binding protein LiPABP and may have potential applications in research and diagnosis and even as therapeutic agents. Regarding malaria, aptamers have been obtained that allow the identification of infected erythrocytes or inhibit the formation of rosettes, along with those that provide promising alternatives for diagnosis by specifically detecting the protein lactate dehydrogenase (PfLDH). In Cryptosporidium parvum allow the detection of oocysts in contaminated food or water. In Entamoeba histolytica, two aptamers called C4 and C5, which inhibit the proliferation of trophozoites in vitro and have potential use as therapeutic agents, have been isolated. Aptamers obtained against Trypanosoma cruzi inhibit the invasion of LLC-MK2 (from monkey kidney) cells by 50-70%, and in T. brucei, aptamers with the potential to transport toxic molecules to the parasitic lysosome were identified as a novel therapeutic strategy. The data collected in this review highlight aptamers as a novel alternative in the research, diagnosis, and treatment of parasites of national interest.

Quantitative detection of neurotransmitter using aptamer: From diagnosis to therapeutics

Neurotransmitters, the small molecule chemical messenger responsible for nervous system regulation and cancontrol joy, fear, depression, insomnia, craving for carbohydrates, drugs, and alcohols. Variation in neurotransmitter levels is a characteristic manifestation of several neurological diseases. Accurate diagnosis of thesediseases caused due to an imbalance in neurotransmitter level followed by impaired transmission of signalsbetween neurons and other body parts remains a great challenge for the clinicians. Recent evidences reveal,artificial single-stranded nucleotides called ‘aptamer’ are widely used as biosensors, antibody substitutes,diagnostic agents, and for targeted therapy. These aptamers are superior candidate both for early detection anddiagnosis of many neurological disorders caused due to suboptimal level of neurotransmitters. Presently, noninvasive neurotransmitter detection by aptamer has been found to be an easy, fast, and cost-effective choice. Inaddition, increased specificity, stability, affinity, and reproducibility of aptamers, high throughput screening ofaptamer-based sensing platforms have been observed. Moreover, clinical applicability of aptamer has alsoproved to be efficacious, though still at a preliminary stage. Herein, we review salient features of aptamerbased sensing technology used for neurotransmitter detection particularly their chemical modifications,selection, assay development, immobilization, therapeutic efficiency, and stability for early diagnosis of diseases caused due to neurotransmitter imbalance.

Current Research Status of Aptamer-mediated Liposome Targeted Delivery of Antitumor Drugs / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Tumor has become the second most serious disease that threatens human health and life. Treating with chemical drugs (referred to as chemotherapy) is the most basic treatment, but most chemotherapeutic drugs cause damage to normal tissues. It is a difficult problem in the field of biomedical research that how to deliver anti-tumor drugs more efficiently, increase the concentration of drugs in tumor tissues, enhance the anti-tumor effect, and decrease the drug distribution in normal tissues to weaken the damage to normal tissues. In order to achieve the goals of accurate delivery of anti-tumor drugs and synergism and attenuation, the researchers used systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment technology (SELEX technology) to screen aptamers that can specifically target tumor markers or tumor cells, and designed the novel liposome targeting drug delivery system with aptamers as targeting molecules (ligands). This paper briefly introduced nucleic acid aptamer technology and common tumor markers, and reviewed the research advances on the antitumor effect of aptamer-liposome drug delivery system. It will provide references for the selection of appropriate tumor markers as targets and the application of aptamer technology in the research and development of high-efficiency and low-toxicity liposome targeting agents of anti-tumor traditional Chinese medicine. Meanwhile, it is of great significance for promoting the application of aptamer technology in targeted drug delivery systems.

Cytological study on aptamer selection for bladder cancer through CELL-SELEX / 医学研究生学报

ObjectiveThe methods based on bladder cancer markers which could be applied to early diagnosis and postoperative recurrence monitoring of bladder cancer were current research hotspots. This study aims to screen aptamers that specifically recognize human bladder cancer cell lines (EJ, T24, BIU87) through cell-based systematic evolution of ligand by exponential enrichment (CELL-SELEX).MethodsFor CELL-SELEX screening, bladder cancer cell lines EJ, T24, and BIU87 were used as positive control cells. HCV 29 (human normal urothelial cell line), 293T (human embryonic kidney cell line), huh7 (human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line) were used as negative control cells. PCR upstream primers were labeled with FITC, downstream primer was labeled with Biotin. ssDNA fragments collected from each round were amplified by PCR, and the amplified product was then purified using a DNA purification Kit. The biotin-streptavidin magnetic separation methods were used to isolate the PCR product to obtain secondary FITC-ssDNA for the next CELL-SELEX round. The screening process was monitored by flow cytometry. ssDNA pool with the highest binding rates to bladder cancer cell lines(EJ, T24, and BIU87) was selected to PCR amplification, product purification, molecular cloning, and sequencing. According to the sequencing results, the secondary structure of the aptamer was pre-simulated by Dnaman software. Aptamer labeled with FITC was synthesized in vitro, flow cytometry was used to detect the binding rate of the aptamer to bladder cancer cell lins (EJ, T24 and BIU87).ResultsWith the advance of the CELL-SELEX process, the binding rate of FITC-ssDNA to bladder cancer cell lins (EJ, T24, and BIU87) increased gradually. By the 15th round, the binding rate of FITC-ssDNA to EJ cells reached the highest level. The apt1 had the highest enrichment among the 15th round ssDNA pool. By the 18th round, the binding rate of FITC-ssDNA to T24 or BIU87 cells reached the highest level. The apt2 and apt3 had the highest enrichment among the 18th round ssDNA pool. DNA structure prediction showed that the secondary structure of apt1, apt2, and apt3 was mainly stem-loop structure. Flow cytometry showed that the highest binding rate was FITC-apt1 to EJ cells, FITC-apt2 to T24 cells, and FITC-apt3 to BIU87 cells, respectively. There is no significant combination between these aptamers with the negative cells.ConclusionIn this study, three kinds of aptamers with high specificity for bladder cancer cell lines were successfully screened by CELL-SELEX. The apt1 can specifically recognize EJ cells, apt2 can specifically recognize T24 cells and apt3 can specifically recognize BIU87 cells, all of which provide experimental evidence for early diagnosis and targeted therapy technology research of bladder cancer.

Using aptamer of sgc8 for diagnosis of acute leukemia / 上海交通大学学报（医学版）

Objective : To study the ability of aptamer sgc8 to recognize different bone marrow cells and evaluate its diagnostic value for acute leukemia (AL). Methods : 5-Carboxyfluorescein-labeled aptamer sgc8 and its control random library chain (Lib) were used to examine 83 clinical bone marrow samples by flow cytometry, and the difference between sgc8 and Lib of the positive percentages of each cell population was analyzed. Kruskal-Wallis test was used for statistical analysis. Results : In AL samples, sgc8 has a specific ability to recognize tumor cells in most of the acute T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) samples, and the ability of sgc8 to recognize tumor cells of various AML subtypes is different while there is no difference for the ability to recognize tumor cells of T-ALL subtypes. But sgc8 doesn't show obvious recognition ability in acute B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) samples. In normal bone marrow samples, sgc8 can specifically recognize the myeloid blast cellsbut not early B cells and other mature cell populations. Conclusion : The aptamer sgc8 has specific recognition ability in AML, T-ALL and normal bone marrow samples, and may have different diagnostic values for various AML subtypes, but it does not significantly recognize cells of B-ALL samples.