June 23rd, 2015

Iranian researchers produced a type of biosensor that can detect very small amounts of cocaine in blood.

The sensor has high speed and accuracy and reduces the detection cost in diagnosis centers and clinics.
According to the researchers, expensive devices and equipment such as HPLC and GC devices are used in the detection of cocaine through usual methods. The preparation of the sample is very time-consuming and complicated in these methods, and a lot of time is required to carry out the measurement. In addition, the addict may use blocking agents that make impossible the detection of cocaine.
The cost of preparation of the sample decreases significantly by using the sensor designed in this research, and the sensing and measurement of the amount of cocaine is carried out much faster. High selectivity is another advantage of the product, in a way that in case the addict consumes very small amount of cocaine and tries to block the sensing of the drug through unusual methods, this diagnosis kit detects the consumption of the cocaine. The diagnosis kit does not have any side effects, and it carries out the detection very easily only by having one drop of blood serum.
The designed aptasensor does not respond to other drugs and medications, including methadone, pethidine, paracetamol and codeine even at 200 times higher concentrations. The aptasensor can detect cocaine in human blood serum at detection limit of 150 picomolar.