title: Nanomaterial-based cocaine aptasensors.
abstract: Up to now, many different methods have been developed for detection of cocaine, but most of these methods are usually time-consuming, tedious and require special or expensive equipment. Therefore, the development of simple, sensitive and rapid detection methods is necessary. In the last decade, aptamers have been used as a new biosensor platform for detection of cocaine in different samples. Aptamers are artificial single-stranded DNA or RNA oligonucleotides capable of binding to specific molecular targets with high affinity and if integrated to nanomaterials, it may lead in precise methods for cocaine detection in the common laboratories. In this review, recent advances and applications of aptamer-based biosensors and nanobiosensors, have been updated, paying attention to the use of fluorescence, colorimetric and electrochemical techniques for the detection and quantitative determination of cocaine.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 91775-1365, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mokhtarzadeh
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Electronic address: ezzatij@tbzmed.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Jafar
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ezzati Nazhad Dolatabadi
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 91775-1365, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Khalil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abnous
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de la Guardia
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 91775-1365, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: Ramezanim@mums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramezani
mesh_terms: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000737:chemistry*; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D003042:Cocaine / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003124:Colorimetry; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000737:chemistry; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D003042:Cocaine
keywords: Aptasensors; Cocaine; Colorimetric assays; Electrochemical; Nanosensors; Optical