# Recent Advances in Aptamer-Based Applications in Cardiology

## TL;DR

Aptamers are being developed for diagnosing and treating heart diseases with high precision and new delivery methods.

## Contribution

This paper reviews recent advances in aptamer-based diagnostics and therapeutics for cardiovascular diseases.

## Key findings

- Aptamers enable highly sensitive biosensors for cardiac biomarkers like troponins and C-reactive protein.
- Clinical-stage aptamers like BT200 and NU172 offer controllable anticoagulation with reversible effects.
- Aptamers combined with nanomaterials improve drug delivery and biosensing for heart conditions.

## Abstract

Aptamers, short single-stranded DNA or RNA oligonucleotides, are emerging as transformative tools in cardiology for the diagnosis, treatment, and theranostics of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This review highlights their dual utility. In diagnostics, aptamers enable the construction of highly sensitive biosensors for key cardiac biomarkers (e.g., troponins, myoglobin, C-reactive protein, natriuretic peptides), outperforming conventional assays and enabling early detection and point-of-care testing. Therapeutically, aptamers offer targeted, controllable, and reversible anticoagulation, as demonstrated by clinical-stage candidates like BT200 (anti-vWF) and NU172 (anti-thrombin), whose action can be rapidly reversed with antidote oligonucleotides. Furthermore, aptamers serve as precision delivery vehicles (e.g., Gint4.T, RNA-Apt30) for transporting therapeutic peptides or nucleic acids specifically to cardiomyocytes. Recent integration with nanomaterials (quantum dots, graphene, liposomes, DNA origami) has led to advanced biosensing and drug delivery platforms. Despite challenges like stability and the polyethylene glycol (PEG) immunogenicity, ongoing clinical trials underscore the significant potential of aptamer technology to bridge precise diagnostics and targeted therapy, paving the way for innovative, personalized CVD interventions.)