sensor that changes color in the presence of cocaine

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Researchers in China and Singapore have created a sensor that changes color in the presence of cocaine. The sensor is fast and portable, and even minute quantities of blow will cause the material to change from red to dark blue.The key ingredients in the chemochromic material are gold nanoparticles and DNA aptamers (artificial nucleic-acid receptors that have a high affinity for certain ligands). The aptamer–nanoparticle composite is stable and red in colour. When cocaine is present, it binds to the aptamer, liberating the aptamer from the nanoparticles. This leads to the aggregation of nanoparticles in a salt solution, turning it blue.

Some say he’s half man half fish, others say he’s more of a seventy/thirty split. Either way he’s a fishy bastard.

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