Harnessing aptamers against COVID-19: A therapeutic strategy

Ali Mahmoudi; Seyedeh Hoda Alavizadeh; Seyedeh Atefeh Hosseini; Pouria Meidany; Maham Doagooyan; Yasaman Abolhasani; Zakieh Saadat; Fatemeh Amani; Prashant Kesharwani; Fatemeh Gheybi; Amirhossein Sahebkar

doi:10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103663

Harnessing aptamers against COVID-19: A therapeutic strategy

Drug Discov Today. 2023 Aug;28(8):103663. doi: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103663. Epub 2023 Jun 12.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medical Biotechnology and Nanotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
² Nanotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
³ Nanotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
⁴ Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India; Center for Transdisciplinary Research, Department of Pharmacology, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Science, Chennai, India.
⁵ Department of Medical Biotechnology and Nanotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran; Nanotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: gheybif@mums.ac.ir.
⁶ Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: amir_saheb2000@yahoo.com.

Abstract

The novel coronavirus crisis caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was a global pandemic. Although various therapeutic approaches were developed over the past 2 years, novel strategies with more efficient applicability are required to target new variants. Aptamers are single-stranded (ss)RNA or DNA oligonucleotides capable of folding into unique 3D structures with robust binding affinity to a wide variety of targets following structural recognition. Aptamer-based theranostics have proven excellent capability for diagnosing and treating various viral infections. Herein, we review the current status and future perspective of the potential of aptamers as COVID-19 therapies.

Keywords: Aptamers; COVID-19; Therapeutic applications.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Aptamers, Nucleotide* / chemistry
Aptamers, Nucleotide* / therapeutic use
COVID-19*
DNA
Humans
Oligonucleotides / chemistry
RNA
SARS-CoV-2

Substances

Oligonucleotides
DNA
RNA
Aptamers, Nucleotide