VEGFAAptamer
VEGFAAptamer refers to a class of nucleic acid aptamers that bind vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A). These short, single-stranded DNA or RNA molecules are selected for high affinity and specificity to VEGF-A using the SELEX process and are frequently modified to improve nuclease resistance and pharmacokinetic properties. By occupying VEGF-A's receptor-binding interface, VEGFAAptamers prevent signaling through VEGF receptors (primarily VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2) and thereby inhibit angiogenesis in pathological contexts such as cancer and retinal neovascular diseases.
Pegaptanib sodium (Macugen) is the best-known VEGFAAptamer. It is an RNA aptamer that binds VEGF-A165 with high
Beyond pegaptanib, researchers have developed additional VEGF-binding aptamers of RNA and DNA chemistries and explored chemical
Overall, VEGFAAptamers illustrate the therapeutic potential of aptamer-based VEGF inhibition, offering a non-protein alternative with distinct