Aptamers-based Strategies for the Treatment of Microbial Infections

Background: Nowadays, infectious diseases caused by bacteria are one of the major risks for the human population worldwide. Antimicrobial resistance determined the necessity to develop both, new drugs and therapeutic approaches as alternatives to antibiotics and novel methods to detect bacteria. Aptamers have revealed their potential in combating antimicrobial infections. Aptamers are small singlestranded DNA or RNA oligonucleotides obtained through an in vitro process able to bind several targets with high affinity and specificity. Objective: The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the state of the art of aptamer-based antimicrobial therapeutic strategies, new methods of detection of bacteria, and their potential use as delivery systems. Conclusion: Recent applications on research about aptamers suggest their important potential in discovering novel pharmacological tools for the treatment of microbial infections.