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Aptamers

Meaning

Aptamers are single-stranded nucleic acid molecules, composed of either DNA or RNA, that are synthetically engineered to fold into highly specific three-dimensional structures. These molecules exhibit a remarkable affinity for binding to a designated molecular target, such as a hormone, a receptor protein, or a specific cell type. Functionally, they serve as chemical analogues to antibodies, offering unique advantages in stability, cost-effective synthesis, and ease of modification for diagnostic or therapeutic applications.