Researchers Use Engineered Extracellular Vesicles to Isolate High-Affinity DNA Aptamers for the μ-Opioid Receptor

Researchers have developed a new method to isolate high-affinity DNA aptamers that target the μ-opioid receptor by utilizing functional extracellular vesicles. This technique improves the selection process for these molecules, which serve as synthetic alternatives to antibodies in binding to specific cell-surface receptors.

The study details how scientists engineered extracellular vesicles to display the μ-opioid receptor on their surfaces, creating a stable platform for the selection process. By using these vesicles as targets, the researchers successfully identified DNA sequences that bind specifically to the receptor with high affinity. This approach addresses previous challenges in aptamer development, where isolating molecules that recognize complex membrane proteins in their native conformation often proved difficult. The findings demonstrate that this vesicle-based strategy increases the efficiency of the selection process and provides a reliable tool for targeting receptors involved in pain signaling and opioid response.

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Date: July 7, 2026

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GOAI