Overview of aptamer-based biosensors

In the early 2000s, nucleic-acid aptamers were for the first time reported. Still, there is a huge attention gained by aptamers as it has many applications in various areas. This book chapter makes available a brief overview of the latest advancements in the area of aptamer-based biosensors which are mainly related to fundamental and biomedical applications. In biosensing, in comparison to traditional antibodies, aptamers have numerous benefits for element recognition. The aptamer is small in size, has good chemical stability and notable flexibility, and is also cost-effective. The aptamer-based biosensor demonstrates high sensitivity and selectivity. In this book chapter, the effect of the amalgamation of aptamers with novel nanomaterials on the performance of aptamer-based sensors is discussed. The challenges faced while bringing the new aptamer-based biosensor from the lab to the market were discussed.