Many aptamers have been selected by cell-SELEX methods.48–50 Here, three specific phospholipid-polyethylene glycol-linked aptamers, including AS1411 targeting nucleolin,51 S1.6 binding mucin protein (MUC1) and SYL3C targeting epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), were synthesized for conjugation with the isotopic GIAN-encoders through hydrophobic–hydrophobic interaction, respectively.52–54 The aptamer-conjugated isotopic GIAN-encoders incorporated a built-in pattern recognition component for simultaneous, rapid and targeted cancer cell imaging. The gene discussed is NUCLEOLIN; the disease is cancer.