A novel colorimetric aptasensor for ultrasensitive detection of cocaine based on the formation of three-way junction pockets on the surfaces of gold nanoparticles.

Herein, a novel colorimetric aptasensor was introduced for detection of cocaine based on the formation of three-way junction pockets on the surfaces of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and the catalytic activity of the surfaces of AuNPs. Simplicity and detection of cocaine in a short time (only 35 min) are some of the unique features of the proposed sensing strategy. In the presence of cocaine, triple-fragment aptamer (TFA) forms on the surfaces of AuNPs, leading to a significant decrease of the catalytic activity of AuNPs and the color of samples remains yellow. In the absence of target, TFA does not form on the surfaces of AuNPs and 4-Nitrophenol, as a colorimetric agent, has more access to the surfaces of AuNPs, resulting in the reduction of 4-Nitrophenol and the color of sample changes from yellow to colorless. The sensing strategy showed good specificity, a limit of detection (LOD) of 440 pM and a dynamic range over 2-100 nM. The sensing method was also successfully applied to detect cocaine in spiked human serum samples with recovery of 94.71-98.63%.