Aptamers, or nucleic acid ligands, have gained clinical interest over the past 
20 years due to their unique characteristics, which are a combination of the 
best facets of small molecules and antibodies. The high binding affinity and 
specificity of aptamers allows for isolation of an artificial ligand for 
theoretically any therapeutic target of interest. Chemical manipulations of 
aptamers also allow for fine-tuning of their bioavailability, and antidote 
control greatly expands their clinical use. Here we review the various methods 
of antidote control of aptamer therapeutics--matched oligonucleotide antidotes 
and universal antidotes. We also describe the development, recent progress, and 
potential future therapeutic applications of these types of aptamer-antidote 
pairs.