Aptamer's Structure Optimization for Better Diagnosis and Treatment of Glial Tumors.

Oncological diseases are a major focus in medicine, with millions diagnosed each year, leading researchers to seek new diagnostic and treatment methods. One promising avenue is the development of targeted therapies and rapid diagnostic tests using recognition molecules. The pharmaceutical industry is increasingly exploring nucleic acid-based therapeutics.

Unleashing the antitumor power of cyclophosphamide by arabinogalactan and aptamer conjugation.

Cyclophosphamide (CPA) (2-oxo-2-di(β-chloroethyl)amino tetrahydro-2,1,3-phosphoxazine) is an alkylating cytostatic compound with a broad spectrum of antitumor activity. Despite its efficacy, the clinical application of CPA is hindered by the significant occurrence of adverse side effects. To address these limitations, a promising approach involves the mechanochemical treatment of CPA with arabinogalactan (AG) to facilitate the dispersion of the drug within the AG matrix.

Development of DNA aptamers for visualization of glial brain tumors and detection of circulating tumor cells.

Here, we present DNA aptamers capable of specific binding to glial tumor cells , , and for visualization diagnostics of central nervous system tumors. We selected the aptamers binding specifically to the postoperative human glial primary tumors and not to the healthy brain cells and meningioma, using a modified process of systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment to cells; sequenced and analyzed ssDNA pools using bioinformatic tools and identified the best aptamers by their binding abilities; determined three-dimensional structures of lead aptamers (Gli-55 and Gli-233) with small-angle X-ray scattering and molecular modeling; isolated and identified molecular target proteins of the aptamers by mass spectrometry; the potential binding sites of Gli-233 to the target protein and the role of post-translational modifications were verified by molecular dynamics simulations. The anti-glioma aptamers Gli-233 and Gli-55 were used to detect circulating tumor cells in liquid biopsies.

Aptamers Regulating the Hemostasis System.

The hemostasis system is a complex structure that includes the fibrinolysis system, and Yes this is correct coagulation and anticoagulation parts. Due to the multicomponent nature, it becomes relevant to study the key changes in the functioning of signaling pathways, and develop new diagnostic methods and modern drugs with high selectivity. One of the ways to solve this problem is the development of molecular recognition elements capable of blocking one of the hemostasis systems and/or activating another.