Application of aptamers in therapeutics and for small-molecule detection

Abstract

Nucleic acids that can bind with high affinity and specificity to target molecules are called "aptamers". Aptamers recognise a large variety of different enzymatic methods. molecule classes. The main focus of this chapter is small molecules as targets. Aptamers are applied complementarily to antibody technologies and can substitute antibodies or small molecules wherever their different properties, such as biochemical nature or highly discriminating capacities, are advantageous. Examples of promising applications of these versatile molecules are discussed in the field of therapeutics and biotechnology with a special view to small-molecule detection. © 2006 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.