Aptamer-Based Detection of Ampicillin in Urine Samples

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Clinical Diagnostics

Background:

• Antibiotic misuse contributes to rising drug-resistant infections (DRIs).
• Current DRI detection methods often focus on bacterial resistance, not antibiotic usage patterns.
• Monitoring antibiotic levels is crucial for effective treatment and preventing resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an aptamer-based assay for monitoring ampicillin in urine.
• To enable precise antibiotic dosage determination and patient compliance tracking.
• To provide a tool for addressing the root cause of antibiotic resistance: misuse.

Main Methods:

• Development of a fluorescently labelled aptamer assay.
• Testing assay performance in urine samples at various pH levels.
• Determining the limit of detection (LOD) and dynamic range for ampicillin quantification.

Main Results:

• The aptamer assay demonstrated optimal performance at pH 7, suitable for clinical urine samples.
• Achieved a limit of detection as low as 20.6 nM for ampicillin.
• Quantified ampicillin within the clinically relevant range of 100 nM to 100 µM.
• Assay requires a short 1-hour incubation and small sample volume (50–150 µL).

Conclusions:

• The developed aptamer assay is a sensitive and efficient tool for monitoring ampicillin in urine.
• This technology can support optimized antibiotic therapy and improve patient adherence.
• Facilitates integration into healthcare workflows to combat antibiotic misuse and drug resistance.