Patternable nanowire sensors for electrochemical recording of dopamine

Significance of an Electrochemical Sensor and Nanocomposites: Toward the Electrocatalytic Detection of Neurotransmitters and Their Importance within the Physiological System

A prominent neurotransmitter (NT), dopamine (DA), is a chemical messenger that transmits signals between one neuron to the next to pass on a signal to and from the central nervous system (CNS). The imbalanced concentration of DA may cause numerous neurological sicknesses and syndromes, for example, Parkinson's disease (PD) and schizophrenia. There are many types of NTs in the brain, including epinephrine, norepinephrine (NE), serotonin, and glutamate. Electrochemical sensors have offered a creative direction to biomedical analysis and testing. Researches are in progress to improve the performance of sensors and develop new protocols for sensor design. This review article focuses on the area of sensor growth to discover the applicability of polymers and metallic particles and composite materials as tools in electrochemical sensor surface incorporation. Electrochemical sensors have attracted the attention of researchers as they possess high sensitivity, quick reaction rate, good controllability, and instantaneous detection. Efficient complex materials provide considerable benefits for biological detection as they have exclusive chemical and physical properties. Due to distinctive electrocatalytic characteristics, metallic nanoparticles add fascinating traits to materials that depend on the material's morphology and size. Herein, we have collected much information on NTs and their importance within the physiological system. Furthermore, the electrochemical sensors and corresponding techniques (such as voltammetric, amperometry, impedance, and chronoamperometry) and the different types of electrodes' roles in the analysis of NTs are discussed. Furthermore, other methods for detecting NTs include optical and microdialysis methods. Finally, we show the advantages and disadvantages of different techniques and conclude remarks with future perspectives.

Nanowire-based sensor electronics for chemical and biological applications

Detection and recognition of chemical and biological species via sensor electronics are important not only for various sensing applications but also for fundamental scientific understanding. In the past two decades, sensor devices using one-dimensional (1D) nanowires have emerged as promising and powerful platforms for electrical detection of chemical species and biologically relevant molecules due to their superior sensing performance, long-term stability, and ultra-low power consumption. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the recent progress and achievements in 1D nanowire synthesis, working principles of nanowire-based sensors, and the applications of nanowire-based sensor electronics in chemical and biological analytes detection and recognition. In addition, some critical issues that hinder the practical applications of 1D nanowire-based sensor electronics, including device reproducibility and selectivity, stability, and power consumption, will be highlighted. Finally, challenges, perspectives, and opportunities for developing advanced and innovative nanowire-based sensor electronics in chemical and biological applications are featured.

Nanoskiving fabrication of size-controlled Au nanowire electrodes for electroanalysis

Nanoskiving, benefiting from its simple operation and high reproducibility, is a promising method to fabricate nanometer-size electrodes. In this work, we report the fabrication of Au nanowire electrodes with different shapes and well-controlled sizes through nanoskiving. Au nanowire block electrodes, membrane electrodes and tip electrodes are prepared with good reproducibility. Steady-state cyclic voltammograms (CVs) demonstrate that all these electrodes behave well as nanoband ultramicroelectrodes. A fast heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant can be extracted reliably from steady-state CVs at various size Au nanowire block electrodes by the Koutecký-Levich (K-L) method. The Au nanowire membrane electrodes demonstrate good sensitivity toward the oxidation of catecholamine and could monitor catecholamine released from rat adrenal chromaffin cells stimulated by high K⁺.

Nanomaterials-Based Electrochemical Sensors for In Vitro and In Vivo Analyses of Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters are molecules that transfer chemical signals between neurons to convey messages for any action conducted by the nervous system. All neurotransmitters are medically important; the detection and analysis of these molecules play vital roles in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Among analytical strategies, electrochemical techniques have been identified as simple, inexpensive, and less time-consuming processes. Electrochemical analysis is based on the redox behaviors of neurotransmitters, as well as their metabolites. A variety of electrochemical techniques are available for the detection of biomolecules. However, the development of a sensing platform with high sensitivity and selectivity is challenging, and it has been found to be a bottleneck step in the analysis of neurotransmitters. Nanomaterials-based sensor platforms are fascinating for researchers because of their ability to perform the electrochemical analysis of neurotransmitters due to their improved detection efficacy, and they have been widely reported on for their sensitive detection of epinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, glutamate, acetylcholine, nitric oxide, and purines. The advancement of electroanalytical technologies and the innovation of functional nanomaterials have been assisting greatly in in vivo and in vitro analyses of neurotransmitters, especially for point-of-care clinical applications. In this review, firstly, we focus on the most commonly employed electrochemical analysis techniques, in conjunction with their working principles and abilities for the detection of neurotransmitters. Subsequently, we concentrate on the fabrication and development of nanomaterials-based electrochemical sensors and their advantages over other detection techniques. Finally, we address the challenges and the future outlook in the development of electrochemical sensors for the efficient detection of neurotransmitters.

Protein-Based Electronic Skin Akin to Biological Tissues

Human skin provides an interface that transduces external stimuli into electrical signals for communication with the brain. There has been considerable effort to produce soft, flexible, and stretchable electronic skin (E-skin) devices. However, common polymers cannot imitate human skin perfectly due to their poor biocompatibility, biofunctionality, and permeability to many chemicals and biomolecules. Herein, we report on highly flexible, stretchable, conformal, molecule-permeable, and skin-adhering E-skins that combine a metallic nanowire (NW) network and silk protein hydrogel. The silk protein hydrogels offer high stretchability and stability under hydration through the addition of Ca²⁺ ions and glycerol. The NW electrodes exhibit stable operation when subjected to large deformations and hydration. Meanwhile, the hydrogel window provides water and biomolecules to the electrodes (communication between the environment and the electrode). These favorable characteristics allow the E-skin to be capable of sensing strain, electrochemical, and electrophysiological signals.

Application of nanotechnology in biosensors for enhancing pathogen detection

Rapid detection and identification of pathogenic microorganisms is fundamental to minimizing the spread of infectious disease, and informing clinicians on patient treatment strategies. This need has led to the development of enhanced biosensors that utilize state of the art nanomaterials and nanotechnology, and represent the next generation of diagnostics. A primer on nanoscale biorecognition elements such as, nucleic acids, antibodies, and their synthetic analogs (molecular imprinted polymers), will be presented first. Next the application of various nanotechnologies for biosensor transduction will be discussed, along with the inherent nanoscale phenomenon that leads to their improved performance and capabilities in biosensor systems. A future outlook on characterization and quality assurance, nanotoxicity, and nanomaterial integration into lab-on-a-chip systems will provide the closing thoughts. This article is categorized under: Diagnostic Tools > Diagnostic Nanodevices Diagnostic Tools > Biosensing.

One-Pot Green Synthesis of Graphene Nanosheets Encapsulated Gold Nanoparticles for Sensitive and Selective Detection of Dopamine

We report a simple new approach for green preparation of gallic acid supported reduced graphene oxide encapsulated gold nanoparticles (GA-RGO/AuNPs) via one-pot hydrothermal method. The as-prepared composites were successfully characterized by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction techniques (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and elemental analysis. The GA-RGO/AuNPs modified electrode behaves as a hybrid electrode material for sensitive and selective detection of dopamine (DA) in presence of ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA). The GA-RGO/AuNPs modified electrode displays an excellent electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of DA and exhibits a wide linear response range over the DA concentrations from 0.01-100.3 μM with a detection limit (LOD) of 2.6 nM based on S/N = 3. In addition, the proposed sensor could be applied for the determination of DA in human serum and urine samples for practical analysis.

A high-density nanowire electrode on paper for biomedical applications

Different types of nanowires made from platinum, nickel and copper are fabricated and patterned with microscale resolution on paper substrates and employed for biomedical applications.

Electroanalysis at the nanoscale

This article reviews the state of the art of silicon chip-based nanoelectrochemical devices for sensing applications. We first describe analyte mass transport to nanoscale electrodes and emphasize understanding the importance of mass transport for the design of nanoelectrode arrays. We then describe bottom-up and top-down approaches to nanoelectrode fabrication and integration at silicon substrates. Finally, we explore recent examples of on-chip nanoelectrodes employed as sensors and diagnostics, finishing with a brief look at future applications.

Highly sensitive detection of nitroaromatic explosives at discrete nanowire arrays

We show a photolithography technique that permits gold nanowire array electrodes to be routinely fabricated at reasonable cost. Nanowire electrode arrays offer the potential for enhancements in electroanalysis such as increased signal-to-noise ratio and increased sensitivity while also allowing quantitative detection at much lower concentrations. We explore application of nanowire array electrodes to the detection of different nitroaromatic species. Characteristic reduction peaks of nitro groups are not observed at nanowire array electrodes using sweep voltammetric methods. By contrast, clear and well-defined reduction peaks are resolved using potential step square wave voltammetry. A Principle Component Analysis technique is employed to discriminate between nitroaromatic species including structural isomers of DNT. The analysis indicates that all compounds are successfully discriminated by unsupervised cluster analysis. Finally, the magnitude of the reduction peak at -671 mV for different concentrations of TNT exhibited excellent linearity with increasing concentrations enabling sub-150 ng mL(-1) limits of detection.

Interfacial Janus gold nanoclusters as excellent phase- and orientation-specific dopamine sensors

This investigation, following our recent report on the one-pot hemi-micellar interfacial synthesis of Janus gold nanoclusters and the inter-cluster electron coupling establishing insulator-metal transition in the oriented Janus monolayers [Langmuir, 2010, 26(17), 14047], was to fabricate modified electrodes for sensing dopamine, the neurotransmitter. With a detection limit in the sub-nanomolar range, the apparent electron transfer rate constants for dopamine detection signified an intricate Janus cluster 2D phase dependency. Surface pressure as a thermodynamic variable controlled the electronic communication between the clusters as a result of varied inter-cluster distance and size, ultimately reflecting on the sensitivity and detection limit for dopamine sensing. The non-covalent nature of the ligands on the core metal clusters facilitated the overall electro-catalytic oxidation of dopamine. The notable feature of this precise work was that it established a more effective phase- and orientation-specific Janus cluster sensing than those reported through patterned gold nanowire based sensors.

New trends in the electrochemical sensing of dopamine

Since the early 70s electrochemistry has been used as a powerful analytical technique for monitoring electroactive species in living organisms. In particular, after extremely rapid evolution of new micro and nanotechnology it has been established as an invaluable technique ranging from experiments in vivo to measurement of exocytosis during communication between cells under in vitro conditions. This review highlights recent advances in the development of electrochemical sensors for selective sensing of one of the most important neurotransmitters--dopamine. Dopamine is an electroactive catecholamine neurotransmitter, abundant in the mammalian central nervous system, affecting both cognitive and behavioral functions of living organisms. We have not attempted to cover a large time-span nor to be comprehensive in presenting the vast literature devoted to electrochemical dopamine sensing. Instead, we have focused on the last five years, describing recent progress as well as showing some problems and directions for future development.

Gold nanostructures on flexible substrates as electrochemical dopamine sensors

In this study, we fabricated Au nanowires (NWs), nanoslices (NSs), and nanocorals (NCs) on flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates via direct current electrochemical depositions. Without any surface modification, the Au nanostructures were used as the electrodes for dopamine (DA) sensing. Among them, the Au NW electrode performed exceptionally well. The determined linear range for DA detection was 0.2-600 μM (N = 3) and the sensitivity was 178 nA/μM cm(2), while the detection limit was 26 nM (S/N = 3). After 10 repeated measurements, 95% of the original anodic current values were maintained for the nanostructured electrodes. Sequential additions of citric acid (CA, 1 mM), uric acid (UA, saturated), and ascorbic acid (AA, 1 μM) did not interfere the amperometric response from the addition of DA (0.1 μM).

A nano-sized Au electrode fabricated using lithographic technology for electrochemical detection of dopamine

One big challenge of fabricating nanosensors for spatially resolved electrochemical detection of neurochemicals, such as dopamine (DA), is the difficulty to assembly nanometer-scale patternable and integrated sensors. In this work we develop a novel approach to precisely manufacture nano-Au-electrode (NAE) using lithographic fabrication technique, and characterize the NAE for DA detection. A negative photoresist, SU-8, is used as a substrate and protection layer for the 127-nm Au active sensing layer. The cross surface morphology and thickness of the Au layer are imaged by scanning electron microscopy and an interference microscopy. This NAE could be precisely controlled, repeatedly fabricated and conveniently renewed for several times. The electrochemical sensitivity and selectivity of the NAE towards DA detection are significantly higher than those of a standard Au thin-film electrode. This work demonstrates that the NAE could be used as an attractive means for electrochemically sensing and recording DA.

Electrochemical determination of dopamine based on self-assembled peptide nanostructure

Self-assembled peptide nanostructures are electronically insulating as are most biomaterials derived from natural amino acids. To obtain additional properties and increase the applicability of peptide nanomaterials, some chemical modifications can be performed and materials can be functionalized to form hybrid compounds. In this work, we described the formation of L-diphenylalanine nanotubes (PNTs) with cyclic-tetrameric copper(II) species containing the ligand (4-imidazolyl)ethylene-2-amino-1-ethylpyridine [Cu(4)(apyhist)(4)](4+) in the Nafion membrane on a vitreous carbon electrode surface. This copper complex has been studied as structural and functional models for the active centers of copper containing redox enzymes. Scanning electron microscopy was used to confirm the formation of the nanostructures. The electrochemical properties of the PNT-[Cu(4)(apyhist)(4)](4+)/Nafion film on a glassy carbon electrode were characterized using cyclic voltammetry and square-wave voltammetry and showed high electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of dopamine (DA). The detection sensitivity was found to be enhanced by the use of copper(II) complex in the PNTs/Nafion films. Under the optimum conditions, the square-wave voltammetry peak height was linearly related to the DA concentration over two concentration intervals, viz., 5.0-40 μmol L(-1) and 40-1000 μmol L(-1). The detection limit was 2.80 μmol L(-1) (S/N = 3), and ascorbic acid did not interfere with the DA detection. These results suggested that this hybrid bioinorganic system provides an attractive advantage for a new type of electrochemical sensors. The detection sensitivity was found to be enhanced by use of PNTs.

Nanocavity redox cycling sensors for the detection of dopamine fluctuations in microfluidic gradients

Electrochemical mapping of neurotransmitter concentrations on a chip promises to be an interesting technique for investigating synaptic release in cellular networks. In here, we present a novel chip-based device for the detection of neurotransmitter fluctuations in real-time. The chip features an array of plane-parallel nanocavity sensors, which strongly amplify the electrochemical signal. This amplification is based on efficient redox cycling via confined diffusion between two electrodes inside the nanocavity sensors. We demonstrate the capability of resolving concentration fluctuations of redox-active species in a microfluidic mixing gradient on the chip. The results are explained by a simulated concentration profile that was calculated on the basis of the coupled Navier-Stokes and convection-diffusion equations using a finite element approach.