SELEX with modified nucleotides

Aptamers, a promising new class of therapeutics, are single-stranded oligonucleotides generated via an in vitro selection process that bind to and inhibit the activity of target proteins in a manner similar to therapeutic antibodies. In order to enhance the drug-like character of aptamers, oligonucleotide libraries containing modified nucleotides are increasingly being used for selection. Principally, the choice of modifications aims to increase aptamer potency by enhancing nuclease-resistance, or increasing target affinity by providing more target recognition functionality or generating more stable aptamer structures.