Selection of Aptamers for Metabolite Sensing and Construction of Optical Nanosensors -- SELEX of Cell-Specific RNA Aptamers -- Developing Aptamers by Cell-Based SELEX -- DNA Aptamer Generation by Genetic Alphabet Expansion SELEX (ExSELEX) Using an Unnatural Base Pair System -- Capillary Electrophoresis for the Selection of DNA Aptamers Recognizing Activated Protein C -- Preparation of SELEX Samples for Next-Generation Sequencing -- Next Generation Analysis of Deep Sequencing Data: Bringing Light into the Black Box of SELEX Experiments -- Aptamer Binding Studies Using MicroScale Thermophoresis -- Label-Free Determination of the Dissociation Constant of Small Molecule-Aptamer Interaction by Isothermal Titration Calorimetry -- Applications of Aptamers in Flow and Imaging Cytometry -- In Vitro and In Vivo Imaging of Fluorescent Aptamers -- Crystallographic Pursuit of a Protein-RNA Aptamer Complex -- Voltammetric Aptasensor Based on Magnetic Beads Assay for Detection of Human Activated Protein C -- Apta-PCR -- Aptamer-Based Enzyme-Capture-Assay for Measurement of Plasma Thrombin Levels -- Application of Aptamers in Histopathology -- Aptamer Stainings for Super-Resolution Microscopy -- Synthesis and Characterization of Aptamer Targeted SNALPs for the Delivery of siRNA -- Screening of Genetic Switches Based on the Twister Ribozyme Motif.

This volume provides protocol references covering recent developments in the aptamer field. Within the last decade, aptamers have become more and more popular, and their sophisticated biophysical properties together with their ability to be easily modified and, thus, adapted to various regimens makes them a very promising class of compounds. Divided into three sections, the book covers selection, a series of analytical methods to assess biophysical properties of aptamer-target interactions, as well as various applications of aptamers.  Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.   Practical and easy to follow, Nucleic Acid Aptamers: Selection, Characterization, and Application provides a state-of-the-art summary of recent developments in the aptamer field and will be a helpful resource for scientists in the life sciences working with aptamers as tools to elucidate biological systems.