Fig. 3.

Different modalities of multifunctional aptamers based CSC-targeted therapeutic strategies. (A) Multifunctional aptamer-based CSC-targeted therapeutic strategies containing a single aptamer and other kinds of targeting ligands can simultaneously bind to CSCs and non-CSCs. Reprinted with the permission from Ref. [37]. (B) The use of aptamers as targeting ligands to co-target non-CSCs and CSCs for photothermal therapy. (C) An example of the application of ApDCs to deliver two drugs to CSCs. In response to Apt-NPs, the SOX2-CD133, CD133-Wnt/β-catenin, and CD44-Wnt/β-catenin axes were downregulated and the expression of autophagy genes, such as LAMP1, INFG, and BECN1, were inhibited. Drug-loaded Apt-NPs could reverse drug resistance in GSCs via downregulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and autophagy genes. (D) Multifunctional aptamer-based therapeutics target CSC pathways and thereby inhibit the proliferation of tumors. Reprinted with the permission from Ref. [95].