Bead-Based SELEX for Aptamers Selection and Their Application in Detection of Diverse Antigens

Abstract

Aptamers are single-stranded oligonucleotide having strong binding affinity as well as specificity for various target molecules. They have potential application in detection and diagnosis of diseases, metals ions, metabolites, antibiotics, toxins, etc. Aptamers are selected by an iterative systemic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) methods. Numerous alterations have been done in the SELEX methodology to enhance the quality of aptamers and to reduce the time for selection. Therefore, in this chapter we are summarizing different bead-based SELEX methods as these are convenient, efficient, less-time consuming and applicable to most of the target molecules like proteins, whole cells, microbes, small molecules, etc. Aptamer application in diagnostics has also be summarized at the end.