Fluorogenic Aptasensors with Small Molecules

Aptamers are single-stranded DNA or RNA molecules that can be identified through an iterative in vitro selection-amplification process. Among them, fluorogenic aptamers in response to small molecules have been of great interest in biosensing and bioimaging due to their rapid fluorescence turn-on signals with high target specificity and low background noise. In this review, we report recent advances in fluorogenic aptasensors and their applications to in vitro diagnosis and cellular imaging. These aptasensors modulated by small molecules have been implemented in different modalities that include duplex or molecular beacon-type aptasensors, aptazymes, and fluorogen-activating aptamer reporters. We highlight the working principles, target molecules, modifications, and performance characteristics of fluorogenic aptasensors, and discuss their potential roles in the field of biosensor and bioimaging with future directions and challenges.

Automated summary

This review discusses recent advances in fluorogenic aptasensors and their applications in in vitro diagnosis and cellular imaging. These sensors, modulated by small molecules, show rapid fluorescence turn-on signals with high target specificity and low background noise, making them valuable tools in biosensing and bioimaging.