Aptamers as theranostic in Human Disease

Fecha: 9 de Mayo 2023.
Hora: 12:00h.
Lugar: Aula A12, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada. 

Conferenciante: Prof. Gerolama Condorelli, Full professor of General Pathology, Coordinator of Medical Biotechnology Master Degree. University of Naples Federico II, Naples – Italy.

Aptamers are small, highly structured nucleic acid molecules that assume three-dimensional shapes to bind a given target molecule with high affinity (low nanomolar/picomolar range) and specificity for the target, similar to or better than antibodies. They are high-affinity ligands of disease-associated proteins and possess many advantages for diagnostic and therapeutic applications, including low toxicity, cost-effectiveness, easy synthesis and modification, and no immunogenicity.

Aptamers are selected through an in vitro process called SELEX (systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment), which has been successfully applied to a wide range of different targets, from small molecules to complex cells or tissues. The specific targeting ability of aptamers has ensured their efficient use for biomarker discovery, detection, and therapy.

Aptamers may be used also as a promising approach as bifunctional chimera molecules for delivering tumor suppressor miR, an anti-miR, siRNAs or small molecules in cancer cells. We also explored the use of aptamers to specifically target breast cancer derived extracellular vesicles and we are setting up specific aptamer-based biosensor by the use of Au-nanoparticles. My talk will be focused on our data on the use of RNA aptamers as therapeutic as well as diagnostic tool.

Actividad del programa Erasmus de movilidad de profesores para fines docentes
Grado de Biotecnología, Tutor docente: Prof. Mohamed L. Merroun
Departamento de Microbiología