Aptamer-Functionalized Hybrid Nanostructures for Sensing, Drug Delivery, Catalysis and Mechanical Applications.

Margarita Vázquez-González,Itamar Willner

doi:10.3390/ijms22041803

Margarita Vázquez-González, Itamar Willner

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22041803

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Abstract

Sequence-specific nucleic acids exhibiting selective recognition properties towards low-molecular-weight substrates and macromolecules (aptamers) find growing interest as functional biopolymers for analysis, medical applications such as imaging, drug delivery and even therapeutic agents, nanotechnology, material science and more. The present perspective article introduces a glossary of examples for diverse applications of aptamers mainly originated from our laboratory. These include the introduction of aptamer-functionalized nanomaterials such as graphene oxide, Ag nanoclusters and semiconductor quantum dots as functional hybrid nanomaterials for optical sensing of target analytes. The use of aptamer-functionalized DNA tetrahedra nanostructures for multiplex analysis and aptamer-loaded metal-organic framework nanoparticles acting as sense-and-treat are introduced. Aptamer-functionalized nano and microcarriers are presented as stimuli-responsive hybrid drug carriers for controlled and targeted drug release, including aptamer-functionalized SiO2 nanoparticles, carbon dots, metal-organic frameworks and microcapsules. A further application of aptamers involves the conjugation of aptamers to catalytic units as a means to mimic enzyme functions “nucleoapzymes”. In addition, the formation and dissociation of aptamer-ligand complexes are applied to develop mechanical molecular devices and to switch nanostructures such as origami scaffolds. Finally, the article discusses future challenges in applying aptamers in material science, nanotechnology and catalysis.

Highlights

In the present perspective article, we present a summary of examples originating from our laboratory demonstrating the broad applicability of aptamer-functionalized hybrid nanostructures in various scientific disciplines
In the presence of ATP, the loop domain reconfigures into the ATP/ATP aptamer ligand complex that results in the rigidification of loop region and the active Mg2+ -dependent DNAzyme structure
Despite the progress in the field, one might identify future challenges. (i) Recent activities demonstrated the significance of molecular dynamic simulations to understand, and improve by base mutations, the ligand-aptamer interactions

Summary

Introduction

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Aptamers hold great promise for biomedical applications Beyond their use as sensing matrices, the specific recognition properties of aptamers were extensively used for targeting cell receptors, thereby facilitating the delivery of drugs and enabling cell imaging [67,68,69,70,71]. The biocompatibility of aptamer nucleic acids and their low immunogenetic make the aptamers ideal drug targeting carriers, therapeutic agents and functional material for in vivo sensing applications [77,78,79]. Specific applications of aptamer-nanomaterial hybrids in developing sensors, drug-delivery carriers, new catalytic materials and supramolecular machines will be addressed

Hybrid Aptamer Nanostructures for Sensing Applications

Aptamers as Responsive Gates for Nano or Microcarriers

Aptamer Nanostructures for Catalysis

DNA Motor Systems Driven by Aptamer-Ligand Complexes

Findings

Conclusions