11 Hormone Aptamers in Endocrine-Related Diseases
321
chemical-modification flexibility [7]. With high affinity and specificity, aptamers play
a crucial role in hormone detection and related disease treatment. Many researchers
have made impressive progress in this area. We will discuss herein some selected
research advances in hormone detection, and corresponding disease treatments that
rely on aptamers.
11.2 Hormone-Related Aptamers
Over the years, many research groups have strived to develop increasingly sensitive,
efficient, and inexpensive ways to detect specific molecules or cells in the human
body. The ideal medical diagnostic tool should be highly precise, repeatable, fast, and
readable. It should also behave well under physiological conditions. The aptamerbased sensor meets all of these requirements. For instance, most of the currently
proposed aptamer-based sensors can perform colorimetric or electrochemical detection, taking advantage of the ability of aptamer to fold adaptively during target
binding. Additionally, most research groups have developed aptamer-based sensors
that convert binding energy into fluorescent or other signals.
Aptamers can detect the concentration of various hormones and monitor any
irregular behavior in vivo. In the human body, the level of hormone maintains a
dynamic balance; it is the critical indicator for the functions of tissues and organisms.
The endocrine disorder may cause a lot of severe consequences. Therefore, it is crucial
to monitor the level of hormones in the body. The traditional methods for hormone
detection are enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), radio immune assay,
electrochemiluminescence, and fluorescence, which require sophisticated laboratory
equipment and lack sometimes the required specificity. For a long time, scientists
have been trying to find new ways of analysis. Detecting the level of the hormone
using various hormone-related aptamer-based aptasensors is likely to have boundless
prospects.
11.2.1 Estrogen-Related Aptamers
Estrogen is the primary female sex hormone in the blood. It not only promotes the
development of the female reproductive system and maintains its function, but also
participates in the regulation of essential physiological functions of many organs
such as maintaining bone mass balance, maintaining vascular endothelial health,
promoting the development of the nervous system, and balancing the stable state
of human body environment including blood lipid and blood glucose. During the
process of transition of menopause, multiple organs lose the protective effect of
estrogen after its concentration falls below physiological threshold levels. The incidence of chronic diseases closely related to estrogen is increasing rapidly such as the
most common osteoporosis and associated fractures, cardiovascular diseases, and
321
chemical-modification flexibility [7]. With high affinity and specificity, aptamers play
a crucial role in hormone detection and related disease treatment. Many researchers
have made impressive progress in this area. We will discuss herein some selected
research advances in hormone detection, and corresponding disease treatments that
rely on aptamers.
11.2 Hormone-Related Aptamers
Over the years, many research groups have strived to develop increasingly sensitive,
efficient, and inexpensive ways to detect specific molecules or cells in the human
body. The ideal medical diagnostic tool should be highly precise, repeatable, fast, and
readable. It should also behave well under physiological conditions. The aptamerbased sensor meets all of these requirements. For instance, most of the currently
proposed aptamer-based sensors can perform colorimetric or electrochemical detection, taking advantage of the ability of aptamer to fold adaptively during target
binding. Additionally, most research groups have developed aptamer-based sensors
that convert binding energy into fluorescent or other signals.
Aptamers can detect the concentration of various hormones and monitor any
irregular behavior in vivo. In the human body, the level of hormone maintains a
dynamic balance; it is the critical indicator for the functions of tissues and organisms.
The endocrine disorder may cause a lot of severe consequences. Therefore, it is crucial
to monitor the level of hormones in the body. The traditional methods for hormone
detection are enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), radio immune assay,
electrochemiluminescence, and fluorescence, which require sophisticated laboratory
equipment and lack sometimes the required specificity. For a long time, scientists
have been trying to find new ways of analysis. Detecting the level of the hormone
using various hormone-related aptamer-based aptasensors is likely to have boundless
prospects.
11.2.1 Estrogen-Related Aptamers
Estrogen is the primary female sex hormone in the blood. It not only promotes the
development of the female reproductive system and maintains its function, but also
participates in the regulation of essential physiological functions of many organs
such as maintaining bone mass balance, maintaining vascular endothelial health,
promoting the development of the nervous system, and balancing the stable state
of human body environment including blood lipid and blood glucose. During the
process of transition of menopause, multiple organs lose the protective effect of
estrogen after its concentration falls below physiological threshold levels. The incidence of chronic diseases closely related to estrogen is increasing rapidly such as the
most common osteoporosis and associated fractures, cardiovascular diseases, and