Innovations in Aptamer Technology: SELEX To Intelligent Molecular Engineering and Clinical Translation

Abstract

Aptamers—short, single‐stranded nucleic acids capable of folding into complex three‐dimensional structures—have evolved from biochemical curiosities into programmable molecular interfaces with expanding diagnostic and therapeutic relevance. Through systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX), aptamers exploit the structural plasticity of nucleic acids to achieve high‐affinity and high‐specificity target recognition. Innovations in chemical modification, high‐throughput sequencing, microfluidics, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence (AI) have redefined aptamer discovery and translational potential. Aptamers transition from antibody alternatives to programmable molecular systems capable of sensing, computation, and controlled actuation in biological environments.