Application of Aptamers in Food Safety

Aptamers are all new ligands with high affinity for considerably diverse molecules ranging from large targets such as proteins, peptides, and complex molecules to drugs and small organic molecules as well as metal ions. These molecules are identified and selected through an in vitro process called SELEX (systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment). Aptamers are widely used in different fields, including medical and pharmaceutical basic research, drug development, diagnosis, and therapy. Analytical and separation tools involving aptamers as molecular recognition and binding elements are another big field of application. The SELEX method has been improved over the last two decades in different ways –it has become more efficient and less time consuming and higher affinities of the aptamers and automation of the process have been achieved. In this review, a general background introduction, general principle of the SELEX, the development of aptamers by use of SELEX, and the application of aptamers in food safety are presented.