Small size, highly selective nature, flexible chemistry and ease of manufacturing make nucleic acid aptamers attractive for multiple applications in human diagnostics and drug discovery.  In this presentation, we will describe the aptamer selection process and describe key challenges that have been overcome to identify aptamers that selectively recognize small molecule targets.  Finally, we will share examples of aptamers used for biomarker discovery, drug delivery, therapy, treatment monitoring, pharmacokinetics/dosing studies, and diagnosis.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Understand the ways in which aptamers can provide advantages over traditional affinity agents in drug discovery and diagnostic product development processes.
2. Learn about healthcare applications of aptamers for small molecule targets and cell surface proteins.