Aptamer empowered hydrogels: Fabrication and bio‐sensing applications.

Aptamer‐based hydrogels have drawn great attention due to their biocompatibility, mechanical properties, responsiveness, and stability. Aptamers are utilized to obtain specific molecular recognition. Aptamers are short single‐stranded DNA (ssDNA) or RNA molecules selected through systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) process, to bind to a specific target with high affinity and specificity. Aptamer functionalized hydrogels have become popular in a wide range of promising applications with the advantages of a vast target distribution, good stability, easy modification, and low cost. In this review, the recent progress on aptamer functionalized hydrogels including their design, fabrication, and bio‐sensing applications have been summarized. The prospects and challenges have also been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]