TABLE 1.

Summary of Aptamer-Functionalized NPs for Medical Applications.

target molecule	aptamer	selection technique	NP platform	application	reference
epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)	RNA	SELEX against purified proteins	gold NPs	targeted therapy, in vitro	27
prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)	RNA	SELEX against purified proteins	gold NPs	targeted imaging and therapy, in vitro	28
			superparamagnetic iron oxide NPs (TCL-SPIONs)	targeted imaging and therapy, in vivo	29
			polymeric NPs	targeted therapy, in vitro and in vivo	12, 30, 31
mucin 1 (MUC1)	DNA	SELEX against purified proteins	polymeric NPs	targeted therapy, in vitro	32, 33
			DNA icosahedral NPs	targeted therapy, in vitro	34
			quantum dots	targeted imaging, in vitro	35
adenosine triphosphate (ATP)	DNA	SELEX against small molecules	mesoporous silica NPs	targeted therapy	36
immunoglobin heavy mu chain (IGHM)	DNA	Cell-SELEX	micelle NPs	targeted imaging and therapy, in vitro	24
			supramolecular reticular DNA-quantum dots	targeted imaging, in vitro	37
			gold NPs	targeted imaging, in vitro	38, 39
protein tyrosine kinase-7 (PTK7)	DNA	Cell-SELEX	Au-Ag nanorodes	targeted imaging and therapy, in vitro	25, 40
			magnetic NPs	cell sorting, in vitro	41
			porous hollow magnetite NPs	targeted imaging and therapy, in vitro	42
			silica NPs	targeted therapy, in vitro	43
			SWNTs	targeted therapy, in vitro	15
not identified	An array of DNA aptamers	Cell-SELEX	magnetic NPs	targeted imaging, in vitro	13
epithermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)	RNA	Cell-SELEX	magnetic core–gold shell NPs	cell sorting, targeted imaging and therapy, in vitro	44
			gold nano popcorn-attached SWNT	targeted imaging and therapy, in vitro	45
			oval-shaped gold NPs	targeted imaging, in vitro	46
not identified	RNA	cell-uptake selection	polymeric NPs	targeted therapy, in vitro	7
nucleolin	DNA	non-conventional SELEX process	quantum dots	targeted imaging, in vitro	47
			liposomes	targeted therapy, in vitro	14
			polymeric NPs	targeted therapy, in vivo	48