Self-templated formation of aptamer-functionalized copper oxide nanorods with intrinsic peroxidase catalytic activity for protein and tumor cell detection

- Aptamer-functionalized copper nanoparticles (Apt-Cu NPs) readily oxidized to Apt-CuO/Cu2O NPs.
- Apt−CuO/Cu2O NPs exhibited strong peroxidase-like activity.
- Catalytic activity of the nanoparticles was significantly suppressed by thrombin.
- Detection of breast tumor cells using Mucin1 aptamer-templated CuO/Cu2O NPs.