Aptamers: Functional-Structural Studies and Biomedical Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Macromolecular recognition is the origin of biological specificity. It takes place in a crowded noisy environment and requires molecular selectivity and affinity. In this context, a special class of synthetic ligands is represented by aptamers, which are oligonucleotides or peptides that bind almost any molecule of choice with high affinity and selectivity. In particular, aptamers are able to modulate the function of most proteins, including blood-clotting factors, cell-surface receptors, and transcription factors. These ligands are characterized by low immunogenicity, a well-established synthesis protocol, and chemical modification technology, which allow a fine-tuning of their bioavailability and pharmacokinetics, thus extending their therapeutic potential. These same features make aptamers excellent candidates also in the development of effective biomedical sensors. Despite numerous studies on aptamers and their interaction with the target molecules, there is still much work to do in this field to improve the pharmacological and diagnostic properties of these ligands.

This Special Issue will concern a selection of original research, review articles, and commentaries focused on functional-structural studies and biomedical applications of aptamers, in a joint attempt to highlight the merits and to overcome the current limitations of this technology.

Prof. Dr. Filomena Sica
Dr. Romualdo Troisi
Guest Editors

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