Isolation and characterization of enantioselective DNA aptamers for ibuprofen

Single stranded DNA aptamers that can bind to ibuprofen, a widely used anti-inflammation drug, were selected from random DNA library of 10 15 nucleotides by FluMag-SELEX process. Five different sequences were selected and their enantioselectivity and affinity were characterized. Three out of five aptamer candidates did not show any affinity to ( S )-ibuprofen, but only to racemic form of ibuprofen, suggesting that they are ( R )-ibuprofen specific aptamers. Another two aptamer candidates showed affinity to both racemic form and ( S )-ibuprofen, which were considered as ( S )-ibuprofen specific aptamers. The affinity of five ssDNA aptamers isolated was in a range of 1.5–5.2 μM. In addition, all of these five aptamers did not show any affinity to analogues of ibuprofen in its profen’s group (fenoprofen, flubiprofen, and naproxen) and the antibiotics of oxytetracycline, another control.