Exploring Immobilization Strategies to Enhance Sensitivity of Electrochemical Aptamer-Based Sensors

Electrochemical aptamer-based (EAB) sensors enable real-time detection of cocaine and other molecules at nanomolar concentrations, but standard sensor fabrication methods result in less-than-optimal sensitivity. This project will assess whether two aptamer deposition approaches—codeposition and target-assisted binding—enhance sensor performance when applied individually and in combination, compared to conventional methods. I hypothesize that both approaches will significantly improve signal detection independently, but both methods combined will yield the most optimal results. This work determines whether techniques previously validated in other EAB sensors can improve cocaine detection, bringing these sensors closer to real-world use in medical overdose detection and drug research.