Advances in Aptamer-Based Sensors: Innovations in Design, Applications, and Analytical Performance

Dear Colleagues,

Aptamers, which are often referred to as "chemical antibodies," have revolutionized biosensing due to their high specificity, affinity, synthetic accessibility, and stability. This Special Issue of Sensors aims to provide an overview of the rapid and transformative advancements propelling aptamer-based sensor technology.

We welcome innovative contributions that highlight advances in design, including novel aptamer selection (SELEX) strategies and signal transduction mechanisms; innovative surface immobilization techniques; the integration of nanomaterials and CRISPR/Cas; and computational approaches. We equally welcome the submission of research that presents diverse applications across crucial domains such as clinical diagnostics (point-of-care, liquid biopsy, pathogens), environmental monitoring (contaminants, toxins), food safety (pathogens, adulterants), and security. Crucially, papers must address enhancements in ​analytical performance, focusing on sensitivity (attomolar to picomolar detection), selectivity, multiplexing capabilities, robustness, real-time monitoring, and validated performance in complex matrices.

This Special Issue will serve as a comprehensive resource for researchers and engineers, fostering the translation of aptamer science into next-generation analytical tools. Original research and reviews are welcome.

Dr. Tianhuan Peng
Guest Editor

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