Aptamers for Medical Applications: From Diagnosis to Therapeutics

This book provides a comprehensive guide to the medical uses of aptamers, covering topics such as pharmaceutical development, tumor detection, personalized therapy, and point-of-care testing. It is a valuable resource for medical scientists and practitioners interested in developing aptamer-based theranostics.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 462 pages
Publication date: 29 March 2022
Publisher: Springer Verlag, Singapore

This comprehensive book delves into the diverse range of medical applications of aptamers, spanning from diagnosis to therapeutics, in fourteen chapters. It explores pioneering topics such as aptamer pharmaceuticals, aptamers for malign tumors, aptamers for personalized therapeutics, and aptamers for point-of-care testing. Serving as an invaluable guide for medical scientists seeking to develop aptamer-based schemes for improved theranostics, this book appeals to a wide audience, including academic researchers, practitioners, and medical researchers across various fields of medical science, medical research, and bio-analytical chemistry.

Aptamers, short strands of nucleic acids, have emerged as powerful tools in medicine due to their unique properties. They can bind to a wide range of targets with high specificity and affinity, making them ideal for various diagnostic and therapeutic applications. In this book, we will explore the comprehensive medical uses of aptamers, from their initial discovery to their potential as theranostics.

Chapter 1: Aptamer Discovery and Selection

Aptamers are discovered through a process called SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment), which involves selecting nucleic acids that bind to a specific target molecule. The selection process involves exposing the nucleic acids to a target molecule in a test tube, followed by washing away unbound nucleic acids and enriching for those that bind tightly. This process can be repeated multiple times to generate a library of aptamers that bind to different target molecules.

Chapter 2: Aptamer-Based Diagnostics

Aptamers have been used in various diagnostic applications, including the detection of diseases, the monitoring of drug levels, and the identification of biomarkers. For example, aptamers can be used to detect the presence of bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens in blood samples. They can also be used to monitor the levels of drugs in the body, such as antibiotics or chemotherapy drugs, to ensure that patients receive the appropriate dosage and avoid toxicity.

Chapter 3: Aptamer-Based Therapeutics

Aptamers have the potential to be used as therapeutics for a wide range of diseases. For example, they can be used to deliver drugs to specific cells or tissues, such as cancer cells or tumor cells. Aptamers can also be used to target specific proteins or enzymes involved in disease pathology, such as HIV or Alzheimer's disease.

Chapter 4: Aptamer-Based Personalized Therapeutics

Aptamers can be used to develop personalized therapeutics for individual patients. By analyzing the patient's genetic makeup and disease profile, aptamers can be designed to bind to specific target molecules in the patient's body. This allows for targeted therapy, which can be more effective than traditional chemotherapy or drug treatments.

Chapter 5: Aptamer-Based Point-of-Care Testing

Aptamers can be used for point-of-care testing, which allows for rapid and accurate diagnosis of diseases. For example, aptamers can be used to detect the presence of bacteria or viruses in respiratory samples, such as sputum or nasal swabs. They can also be used to monitor the levels of drugs in the body, such as glucose or cholesterol, to ensure that patients receive the appropriate treatment and avoid complications.

Chapter 6: Aptamer-Based Drug Discovery

Aptamers can be used in drug discovery to identify new drug targets and develop new drugs. For example, aptamers can be used to screen for drugs that bind to specific proteins or enzymes involved in disease pathology. They can also be used to develop drugs that target specific cells or tissues, such as cancer cells or tumor cells.

Chapter 7: Aptamer-Based Imaging

Aptamers can be used in imaging applications, such as MRI or CT scans, to detect the presence of diseases or other abnormalities in the body. For example, aptamers can be used to detect the presence of cancer cells or tumor cells in the body.

Chapter 8: Aptamer-Based Therapy for Infectious Diseases

Aptamers have the potential to be used in therapy for infectious diseases, such as HIV or Ebola. For example, aptamers can be used to target specific proteins or enzymes involved in disease pathology, such as HIV-1 protease or Ebola virus polymerase. This allows for targeted therapy, which can be more effective than traditional chemotherapy or drug treatments.

Chapter 9: Aptamer-Based Therapy for Cancer

Aptamers have the potential to be used in therapy for cancer. For example, aptamers can be used to deliver drugs to specific cancer cells or tissues, such as cancer cells or tumor cells. Aptamers can also be used to target specific proteins or enzymes involved in cancer pathology, such as HER2 or EGFR.

Chapter 10: Aptamer-Based Therapy for Cardiovascular Diseases

Aptamers have the potential to be used in therapy for cardiovascular diseases. For example, aptamers can be used to target specific proteins or enzymes involved in disease pathology, such as angiotensin II or LDL cholesterol. This allows for targeted therapy, which can be more effective than traditional chemotherapy or drug treatments.

Chapter 11: Aptamer-Based Therapy for Neurodegenerative Diseases

Aptamers have the potential to be used in therapy for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. For example, aptamers can be used to target specific proteins or enzymes involved in disease pathology, such as tau or alpha-synuclein. This allows for targeted therapy, which can be more effective than traditional chemotherapy or drug treatments.

Chapter 12: Aptamer-Based Therapy for Diabetes

Aptamers have the potential to be used in therapy for diabetes. For example, aptamers can be used to target specific proteins or enzymes involved in disease pathology, such as insulin or glucagon. This allows for targeted therapy, which can be more effective than traditional chemotherapy or drug treatments.

Chapter 13: Aptamer-Based Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Aptamers have the potential to be used in therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. For example, aptamers can be used to target specific proteins or enzymes involved in disease pathology, such as TNF-alpha or IL-1beta. This allows for targeted therapy, which can be more effective than traditional chemotherapy or drug treatments.

Chapter 14: Conclusion and Future Outlook

In conclusion, aptamers have the potential to revolutionize medicine by providing a new and innovative approach to diagnosis, therapy, and personalized medicine. They have the potential to be used in a wide range of diseases, including infectious diseases, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis. As research in aptamer technology continues to advance, we can expect to see even more exciting developments in the field of medicine in the years to come.

This book offers an essential guide for medical scientists interested in developing aptamer-based schemes for better theranostics. It is therefore of interest for not only academic researchers, but also practitioners and medical researchers in various fields of medical science, medical research, and bio-analytical chemistry.

Weight: 724g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789813348400
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021