Electrochemical impedance spectroscopic sensing of methamphetamine by a specific aptamer.

INTRODUCTION Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is a simple and highly sensitive technique that can be used for evaluation of the aptamer-target interaction even in a label-free approach. METHODS To pursue the effectiveness of EIS, in the current study, the folding properties of specific aptamer for methamphetamine (METH) (i.e., aptaMETH) were evaluated in the presence of METH and amphetamine (Amph). Folded and unfolded aptaMETH was mounted on the gold electrode surface and the electron charge transfer was measured by EIS. RESULTS The Ret of methamphetamine-aptaMETH was significantly increased in comparison with other folding conditions, indicating specific detection of METH by aptaMETH. CONCLUSION Based on these findings, methamphetamine-aptaMETH on the gold electrode surface displayed the most interfacial electrode resistance and thus the most folding situation. This clearly indicates that the aptaMETH can profoundly and specifically pinpoint METH; as a result we suggest utilization of this methodology for fast and cost-effective identification of METH.