Functional groups modulate the sensitivity and electron transfer kinetics of neurochemicals at carbon nanotube modified microelectrodes

Electrochemistry at the Edge of a van der Waals Heterostructure

Artificial van der Waals heterostructures, obtained by stacking two-dimensional (2D) materials, represent a novel platform for investigating physicochemical phenomena and applications. Here, the electrochemistry at the one-dimensional (1D) edge of a graphene sheet, sandwiched between two hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) flakes, is reported. When such an hBN/graphene/hBN heterostructure is immersed in a solution, the basal plane of graphene is encapsulated by hBN, and the graphene edge is exclusively available in the solution. This forms an electrochemical nanoelectrode, enabling the investigation of electron transfer using several redox probes, e.g., ferrocene(di)methanol, hexaammineruthenium, methylene blue, dopamine and ferrocyanide. The low capacitance of the van der Waals edge electrode facilitates cyclic voltammetry at very high scan rates (up to 1000 V s-1), allowing voltammetric detection of redox species down to micromolar concentrations with sub-second time resolution. The nanoband nature of the edge electrode allows operation in water without added electrolyte. Finally, two adjacent edge electrodes are realized in a redox-cycling format. All the above-mentioned phenomena can be investigated at the edge, demonstrating that nanoscale electrochemistry is a new application avenue for van der Waals heterostructures. Such an edge electrode will be useful for studying electron transfer mechanisms and the detection of analyte species in ultralow sample volumes.

Biomedical Applications of CNT-Based Fibers

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been regarded as emerging materials in various applications. However, the range of biomedical applications is limited due to the aggregation and potential toxicity of powder-type CNTs. To overcome these issues, techniques to assemble them into various macroscopic structures, such as one-dimensional fibers, two-dimensional films, and three-dimensional aerogels, have been developed. Among them, carbon nanotube fiber (CNTF) is a one-dimensional aggregate of CNTs, which can be used to solve the potential toxicity problem of individual CNTs. Furthermore, since it has unique properties due to the one-dimensional nature of CNTs, CNTF has beneficial potential for biomedical applications. This review summarizes the biomedical applications using CNTF, such as the detection of biomolecules or signals for biosensors, strain sensors for wearable healthcare devices, and tissue engineering for regenerating human tissues. In addition, by considering the challenges and perspectives of CNTF for biomedical applications, the feasibility of CNTF in biomedical applications is discussed.

Carbon nanospikes have improved sensitivity and antifouling properties for adenosine, hydrogen peroxide, and histamine

Carbon nanospikes (CNSs) are a new nanomaterial that has enhanced surface roughness and surface oxide concentration, increasing the sensitivity for dopamine detection. However, CNS-modified electrodes (CNSMEs) have not been characterized for other neurochemicals, particularly those with higher oxidation potentials. The purpose of this study was to evaluate CNSMEs for the detection of adenosine, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and histamine. The sensitivity increased with CNSs, and signals at CNSMEs were about 3.3 times higher than CFMEs. Normalizing for surface area differences using background currents, CNSMEs show an increased signal of 4.8 times for adenosine, 1.5 times for H2O2, and 2 times for histamine. CNSMEs promoted the formation of secondary products for adenosine and histamine, which enables differentiation from other analytes with similar oxidation potentials. CNSs also selectively enhance the sensitivity for adenosine and histamine compared to H2O2. A scan rate test reveals that adenosine is more adsorption-controlled at CNS electrodes than CFMEs. CNSMEs are antifouling for histamine, with less fouling because the polymers formed after histamine electrooxidation do not adsorb due to an elevated number of edge planes. CNSMEs were useful for detecting each analyte applied in brain slices. Because of the hydrophilic surface compared to CFMEs, CNSMEs also have reduced biofouling when used in tissue. Therefore, CNSMEs are useful for tissue measurements of adenosine, hydrogen peroxide, and histamine with high selectivity and low fouling.

Graphene oxide fiber microelectrodes with controlled sheet alignment for sensitive neurotransmitter detection

Here, we synthesized and characterized graphene oxide (GO) fiber microelectrodes with controllable nanosheet orientation to study the extent to which sheet alignment and orientation impacts electrochemical detection of neurochemicals. The alignment of the GO nanosheets was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. The electrochemical performance of GO microelectrodes and its suitability for subsecond detection of neurotransmitters was further evaluated by fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV). We have shown that the GO sheet alignment has a considerable effect on the electron transfer kinetics, frequency independent behavior, and detection suitability for specific neurotransmitters. Therefore, this fine-tuning aspect of the electrode surface for specific electrochemical detection should be taken into consideration for any future utilization of GO-based biological sensors.

Stable in-vivo electrochemical sensing of tonic serotonin levels using PEDOT/CNT-coated glassy carbon flexible microelectrode arrays

Chronic sampling of tonic serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) concentrations in the brain is critical for tracking neurological disease development and the time course of pharmacological treatments. Despite their value, in vivo chronic multi-site measurements of tonic 5-HT have not been reported. To fill this technological gap, we batch-fabricated implantable glassy carbon (GC) microelectrode arrays (MEAs) onto a flexible SU-8 substrate to provide an electrochemically stable and biocompatible device/tissue interface. To achieve detection of tonic 5-HT concentrations, we applied a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/carbon nanotube (PEDOT/CNT) electrode coating and optimized a square wave voltammetry (SWV) waveform for selective 5-HT measurement. In vitro, the PEDOT/CNT-coated GC microelectrodes achieved high sensitivity to 5-HT, good fouling resistance, and excellent selectivity against the most common neurochemical interferents. In vivo, our PEDOT/CNT-coated GC MEAs successfully detected basal 5-HT concentrations at different locations within the CA2 region of the hippocampus of both anesthetized and awake mice. Furthermore, the PEDOT/CNT-coated MEAs were able to detect tonic 5-HT in the mouse hippocampus for one week after implantation. Histology reveals that the flexible GC MEA implants caused less tissue damage and reduced inflammatory response in the hippocampus compared to commercially available stiff silicon probes. To the best of our knowledge, this PEDOT/CNT-coated GC MEA is the first implantable, flexible sensor capable of chronic in vivo multi-site sensing of tonic 5-HT.

A portable electrochemical sensing platform for serotonin detection based on surface-modified carbon fiber microelectrodes

Serotonin (5-HT) is one of the key neurotransmitters in the human body, regulating numerous physiological functions. A disruption in 5-HT homeostasis could result in serious health problems, including neurodegenerative disorders, depression, and 5-HT syndrome. Detection of 5-HT concentrations in biological fluids, such as urine, is a potential solution for early diagnosis of these diseases. In this study, we developed a novel, simple, and low-cost electrochemical sensing platform consisting of a portable workstation with customized electrodes for 5-HT detection in artificial biological fluids. Nafion/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and electrochemically modified carbon fiber microelectrodes (Nafion-CNT/EC CFMEs) displayed improved 5-HT sensitivity and selectivity. Together with a customized Ag/AgCl reference electrode and Pt counter electrode, the portable 5-HT sensing platform had a sensitivity of 0.074 μA μM^-1 and a limit of detection (LOD) of 140 nM. This system was also assessed to measure 5-HT spiked in artificial urine samples, showing nearly full recovery rates. These satisfactory results demonstrated that the portable system exhibits outstanding performance and confirmed the feasibility of 5-HT detection, which can be used to provide point-of-care analysis in actual biological samples.

Elaboration and Characterization of a New Heavy Metal Sensor Functionalized by Extracellular Polymeric Substances Isolated from a Tunisian Thermophilic Microalga Strain Graesiella sp

The present study aimed to develop and characterize new heavy metal sensors functionalized by extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) isolated from a Tunisian thermophilic microalga strain Graesiella sp. The elaborated sensor showed a highly homogeneous character and revealed a microstructural lamellar arrangement, high crystalline nature, and several functional groups. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and acoustic wave sensing were used as sensing techniques to explore the ability of microalgae-EPS-functionalized sensors to detect cadmium and mercury as heavy metals. For impedimetric measurements, a two-dipole circuit was adopted and showed good-fitted results with a low total error. The acoustic sensor platforms showed good compatibility with EPS in adjacent water. For both EPS-functionalized sensors, metal ions (Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺) were successfully detected in the concentration range from 10^-10 M to 10^-4 M. Impedimetric sensor was more sensitive to Cd²⁺ at low concentrations before saturation at 10^-7 M, while the acoustic sensor exhibited more sensitivity to Hg²⁺ over the full range. The results highlight a new potential alternative to use microalgae EPSs as a sensitive coating material for the detection of heavy metals. However, its use in a real liquid medium requires further investigation of its selectivity in the presence of other compounds.

Adsorption Kinetic Model Predicts and Improves Reliability of Electrochemical Serotonin Detection

Serotonin (5-HT) is a neurotransmitter involved in many biophysiological processes in the brain and in the gastrointestinal tract. Electrochemical methods are commonly used to quantify 5-HT, but their reliability may suffer due to the time-dependent nature of adsorption-limited 5-HT detection, as well as electrode fouling over repeated measurements. Mathematical characterization and modeling of adsorption-based electrochemical signal generation would improve reliability of 5-HT measurement. Here, a model was developed to track 5-HT electrode adsorption and resulting current output by combining Langmuir adsorption kinetic equations and adsorption-limited electrochemical equations. 5-HT adsorption binding parameters were experimentally determined at a carbon-nanotube coated Au electrode: K_D = 7 × 10^-7 M, k_on = 130 M^-1 s^-1, k_off = 9.1 × 10^-5 s^-1. A computational model of 5-HT adsorption was then constructed, which could effectively predict 5-HT fouling over 50 measurements (R² = 0.9947), as well as predict electrode responses over varying concentrations and measurement times. The model aided in optimizing the measurement of 5-HT secreted from a model enterochromaffin cell line-RIN14B-minimizing measurement time. The presented model simplified and improved the characterization of 5-HT detection at the selected electrode. This could be applied to many other adsorption-limited electrochemical analytes and electrode types, contributing to the improvement of application-specific modeling and optimization processes.

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.

Carbon microelectrodes with customized shapes for neurotransmitter detection: A review

Carbon is a popular electrode material for neurotransmitter detection due to its good electrochemical properties, high biocompatibility, and inert chemistry. Traditional carbon electrodes, such as carbon fibers, have smooth surfaces and fixed shapes. However, newer studies customize the shape and nanostructure the surface to enhance electrochemistry for different applications. In this review, we show how changing the structure of carbon electrodes with methods such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD), wet-etching, direct laser writing (DLW), and 3D printing leads to different electrochemical properties. The customized shapes include nanotips, complex 3D structures, porous structures, arrays, and flexible sensors with patterns. Nanostructuring enhances sensitivity and selectivity, depending on the carbon nanomaterial used. Carbon nanoparticle modifications enhance electron transfer kinetics and prevent fouling for neurochemicals that are easily polymerized. Porous electrodes trap analyte momentarily on the scale of an electrochemistry experiment, leading to thin layer electrochemical behavior that enhances secondary peaks from chemical reactions. Similar thin layer cell behavior is observed at cavity carbon nanopipette electrodes. Nanotip electrodes facilitate implantation closer to the synapse with reduced tissue damage. Carbon electrode arrays are used to measure from multiple neurotransmitter release sites simultaneously. Custom-shaped carbon electrodes are enabling new applications in neuroscience, such as distinguishing different catecholamines by secondary peaks, detection of vesicular release in single cells, and multi-region measurements in vivo.

Surface Nanostructure Effects on Dopamine Adsorption and Electrochemistry on Glassy Carbon Electrodes

Dopamine (DA) adsorption and electron-transfer kinetics are strongly sensitive to the structure and composition of carbon electrodes. Activation of carbon surfaces is a popular method to improve DA detection, but the role of carbon structural features on DA behavior remains uncertain. Herein, we use scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM) for local anodization of glassy carbon (GC) electrodes in acid media followed by electrochemical imaging of DA adsorption and electrochemistry covering both unmodified and anodized GC regions of the same electrode. Electrochemical measurements of adsorbed DA involve the delivery of DA from the SECCM meniscus (30 μM) for 1 s periods followed by voltammetric analysis at a reasonable sweep rate (47 V s^-1). This general approach reduces effects from interelectrode variability and allows for considerable numbers of measurements and statistical analysis of electrochemical data sets. Localized electrode activity is correlated to surface structure and chemistry by a range of characterization techniques. Anodization enhances DA electron-transfer kinetics and provides more sites for adsorption (higher specific surface area). A consequence is that adsorption takes longer to approach completion on the anodized surface. In fact, normalizing DA surface coverage by the electrochemical surface area (ECSA) reveals that adsorption is less extensive on anodized surfaces compared to as-prepared GC on the same time scale. Thus, ECSA, which has often been overlooked when calculating DA surface coverage on carbon electrodes, even where different activation methods would be expected to result in different surface roughness and nanostructure, is an important consideration. Lower graphitic and higher oxygen content on anodized GC also suggest that oxygen-containing functional groups do not necessarily enhance DA adsorption and may have the opposite effect. This work further demonstrates SECCM as a powerful technique for revealing surface structure-function relationships and correlations at heterogeneous electrodes.

Echem methods and electrode types of the current in vivo electrochemical sensing

For a long time, people have been eager to realize continuous real-time online monitoring of biological compounds. Fortunately, in vivo electrochemical biosensor technology has greatly promoted the development of biological compound detection. This article summarizes the existing in vivo electrochemical detection technologies into two categories: microdialysis (MD) and microelectrode (ME). Then we summarized and discussed the electrode surface time, pollution resistance, linearity and the number of instances of simultaneous detection and analysis, the composition and characteristics of the sensor, and finally, we also predicted and prospected the development of electrochemical technology and sensors in vivo.

Physical and chemical properties of carbon nanotubes in view of mechanistic neuroscience investigations. Some outlook from condensed matter, materials science and physical chemistry

The open border between non-living and living matter, suggested by increasingly emerging fields of nanoscience interfaced to biological systems, requires a detailed knowledge of nanomaterials properties. An account of the wide spectrum of phenomena, belonging to physical chemistry of interfaces, materials science, solid state physics at the nanoscale and bioelectrochemistry, thus is acquainted for a comprehensive application of carbon nanotubes interphased with neuron cells. This review points out a number of conceptual tools to further address the ongoing advances in coupling neuronal networks with (carbon) nanotube meshworks, and to deepen the basic issues that govern a biological cell or tissue interacting with a nanomaterial. Emphasis is given here to the properties and roles of carbon nanotube systems at relevant spatiotemporal scales of individual molecules, junctions and molecular layers, as well as to the point of view of a condensed matter or materials scientist. Carbon nanotube interactions with blood-brain barrier, drug delivery, biocompatibility and functionalization issues are also regarded.

Electrochemical treatment in KOH renews and activates carbon fiber microelectrode surfaces

Carbon fiber microelectrodes (CFMEs) are the standard electrodes for fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) detection of neurotransmitters. CFMEs are generally used untreated but the surface can be activated with different treatments to improve electrochemical performance. In this work, we explored electrochemical treatments to clean and activate the CFME surface. We used different solution conditions for electrochemical treatment and found that electrochemical pretreatment in KOH outperforms treatment in KCl, H₂O₂, or HCl by accelerating the surface renewal process. The etching rate of carbon with electrochemical treatment in KOH is 37 nm/min, which is 10 times faster than that in the other solutions. Electrochemical treatment in KOH for several minutes regenerates a new carbon surface, which introduces more oxygen functional groups beneficial for adsorption and electron transfer. The KOH-treated CFMEs improved the limit of detection (LOD) to 9 ± 2 nM from 14 ± 4 nM for untreated CFMEs, and they successfully detected stimulated dopamine release in rat brain slices, demonstrating that they are stable and sensitive enough to use in biological systems. Electrochemical treatment in KOH completely restores the electrode sensitivity after biofouling. The proposed electrochemical treatment is simple and fast and can be applied prior to using CFMEs or after use to restore the surface. Thus, the method has potential to be a standard step to clean the carbon surface, or restore the sensitivity of electrodes from biofouling.

Electrochemical Biosensing of Dopamine Neurotransmitter: A Review

Neurotransmitters are biochemical molecules that transmit a signal from a neuron across the synapse to a target cell, thus being essential to the function of the central and peripheral nervous system. Dopamine is one of the most important catecholamine neurotransmitters since it is involved in many functions of the human central nervous system, including motor control, reward, or reinforcement. It is of utmost importance to quantify the amount of dopamine since abnormal levels can cause a variety of medical and behavioral problems. For instance, Parkinson's disease is partially caused by the death of dopamine-secreting neurons. To date, various methods have been developed to measure dopamine levels, and electrochemical biosensing seems to be the most viable due to its robustness, selectivity, sensitivity, and the possibility to achieve real-time measurements. Even if the electrochemical detection is not facile due to the presence of electroactive interfering species with similar redox potentials in real biological samples, numerous strategies have been employed to resolve this issue. The objective of this paper is to review the materials (metals and metal oxides, carbon materials, polymers) that are frequently used for the electrochemical biosensing of dopamine and point out their respective advantages and drawbacks. Different types of dopamine biosensors, including (micro)electrodes, biosensing platforms, or field-effect transistors, are also described.

Review-Recent Advances in FSCV Detection of Neurochemicals via Waveform and Carbon Microelectrode Modification

Fast scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) is an analytical technique that was first developed over 30 years ago. Since then, it has been extensively used to detect dopamine using carbon fiber microelectrodes (CFMEs). More recently, electrode modifications and waveform refinement have enabled the detection of a wider variety of neurochemicals including nucleosides such as adenosine and guanosine, neurotransmitter metabolites of dopamine, and neuropeptides such as enkephalin. These alterations have facilitated the selectivity of certain biomolecules over others to enhance the measurement of the analyte of interest while excluding interferants. In this review, we detail these modifications and how specializing CFME sensors allows neuro-analytical researchers to develop tools to understand the neurochemistry of the brain in disease states and provide groundwork for translational work in clinical settings.

Polymer Modified Carbon Fiber Microelectrodes for Precision Neurotransmitter Metabolite Measurements

Carbon fiber-microelectrodes (CFMEs) are considered to be one of the standard electrodes for neurotransmitter detection such as dopamine (DA). DA is physiologically important for many pharmacological and behavioral states, but is readily metabolized on a fast, subsecond timescale. Recently, DA metabolites such as 3-methoxytyramine (3-MT) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde (DOPAL) were found to be involved in physiological functions, such as movement control and progressive neuro degeneration. However, there is no current assay to detect and differentiate them from DA. In this study, we demonstrate the co-detection of similarly structured neurochemicals such as DA, 3-MT, and DOPAL. We accomplished this through electrodepositing CFMEs with polyethyleneimine (PEI) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) polymers. This endowed the bare unmodified CFMEs with surface charge, physical, and chemical differences, which resulted in the improved sensitivity and selectivity of neurotransmitter detection. The differentiation and detection of 3-MT, DOPAL, and DA will potentially help further understand the important physiological roles that these dopaminergic metabolites play in vivo.

Plasma-treated carbon-fiber microelectrodes for improved purine detection with fast-scan cyclic voltammetry

Here, we developed N2 and O2 plasma-treated carbon-fiber microelectrodes (CFME) for improved purine detection with fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV). Plasma treatment affects the topology and functionality of carbon which impacts the electrode-analyte interaction. CFME's are less sensitive to purines compared to catecholamines. Knowledge of how the electrode surface drives purine-electrode interaction would provide insight into methods to improve purine detection. Here, plasma-treated CFME's with N2 and O2 plasma was used to investigate the extent to which the surface functionality and topology affects purine detection and to improve purine sensing with FSCV. On average, O2 plasma increased the oxidative current for adenosine and ATP by 6.0 ± 1.2-fold and 6.4 ± 1.6-fold, and guanosine and GTP by 2.8 ± 0.47-fold and 5.8 ± 1.4-fold, respectively (n = 9). The O2 plasma increased the surface roughness and oxygen functionality. N2 plasma increased the oxidative current for adenosine and ATP by 1.5 ± 0.15-fold and 1.9 ± 0.23-fold, and guanosine and GTP by 1.4 ± 0.20-fold and 1.5 ± 0.20-fold, respectively (n = 11). N2 plasma increased the nitrogen functionality with minimal increases in roughness. Both plasma treatments impacted purines more than dopamine. Langmuir isotherms revealed that both plasma gases impact the theoretical surface coverage and adsorption strength of purines at the electrode. Overall, we show that purine detection is improved at surfaces with increased surface roughness, and oxygen and amine functionality. Plasma-treated CFMEs could be used in the future to study the analyte-electrode interaction of other neurochemicals.

Ring Finger Protein 11 (RNF11) Modulates Dopamine Release in Drosophila

Recent work indicates a role for RING finger protein 11 (RNF11) in Parkinson disease (PD) pathology, which involves the loss of dopaminergic neurons. However, the role of RNF11 in regulating dopamine neurotransmission has not been studied. In this work, we tested the effect of RNF11 RNAi knockdown or overexpression on stimulated dopamine release in the larval Drosophila central nervous system. Dopamine release was stimulated using optogenetics and monitored in real-time using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry at an electrode implanted in an isolated ventral nerve cord. RNF11 knockdown doubled dopamine release, but there was no decrease in dopamine from RNF11 overexpression. RNF11 knockdown did not significantly increase stimulated serotonin or octopamine release, indicating the effect is dopamine specific. Dopamine clearance was also changed, as RNF11 RNAi flies had a higher V_max and RNF11 overexpressing flies had a lower V_max than control flies. RNF11 RNAi flies had increased mRNA levels of dopamine transporter (DAT) in RNF11, confirming changes in DAT. In RNF11 RNAi flies, release was maintained better for stimulations repeated at short intervals, indicating increases in the recycled releasable pool of dopamine. Nisoxetine, a DAT inhibitor, and flupenthixol, a D2 antagonist, did not affect RNF11 RNAi or overexpressing flies differently than control. Thus, RNF11 knockdown causes early changes in dopamine neurotransmission, and this is the first work to demonstrate that RNF11 affects both dopamine release and uptake. RNF11 expression decreases in human dopaminergic neurons during PD, and that decrease may be protective by increasing dopamine neurotransmission in the surviving dopaminergic neurons.

Evaluation of electrochemical methods for tonic dopamine detection in vivo

Dysfunction in dopaminergic neuronal systems underlie a number of neurologic and psychiatric disorders such as Parkinson's disease, drug addiction, and schizophrenia. Dopamine systems communicate via two mechanisms, a fast "phasic" release (sub-second to second) that is related to salient stimuli and a slower "tonic" release (minutes to hours) that regulates receptor tone. Alterations in tonic levels are thought to be more critically important in enabling normal motor, cognitive, and motivational functions, and dysregulation in tonic dopamine levels are associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. Therefore, development of neurochemical recording techniques that enable rapid, selective, and quantitative measurements of changes in tonic extracellular levels are essential in determining the role of dopamine in both normal and disease states. Here, we review state-of-the-art advanced analytical techniques for in vivo detection of tonic levels, with special focus on electrochemical techniques for detection in humans.

Enhancement of fast scan cyclic voltammetry detection of dopamine with tryptophan-modified electrodes

Fast scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) allows for real -time analysis of phasic neurotransmitter levels. Tryptophan (TRP) is an aromatic amino acid responsible for facilitating electron transfer kinetics in oxidoreductase enzymes. Previous work with TRP-modified electrodes showed increased sensitivity for cyclic voltammetry detection of dopamine (DA) when used with slower scan rates (0.05 V/s). Here, we outline an in vitro proof of concept for TRP-modified electrodes in FSCV detection of DA, and decreased sensitivity for ascorbic acid (AA). TRP-modified electrodes had a limit of detection (LOD) for DA of 2.480 ± 0.343 nM compared to 8.348 ± 0.405 nM for an uncoated electrode. Selectivity for DA/ascorbic acid (AA) was 1.107 ± 0.3643 for uncoated and 15.57 ± 4.184 for TRP-modified electrodes. Additionally, these TRP-modified electrodes demonstrated reproducibility when exposed to extended cycling. TRP-modified electrodes will provide an effective modification to increase sensitivity for DA.

Employing Conductive Metal-Organic Frameworks for Voltammetric Detection of Neurochemicals

This paper describes the first implementation of an array of two-dimensional (2D) layered conductive metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as drop-casted film electrodes that facilitate voltammetric detection of redox active neurochemicals in a multianalyte solution. The device configuration comprises a glassy carbon electrode modified with a film of conductive MOF (M₃HXTP₂; M = Ni, Cu; and X = NH, 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexaiminotriphenylene (HITP) or O, 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexahydroxytriphenylene (HHTP)). The utility of 2D MOFs in voltammetric sensing is measured by the detection of ascorbic acid (AA), dopamine (DA), uric acid (UA), and serotonin (5-HT) in 0.1 M PBS (pH = 7.4). In particular, Ni₃HHTP₂ MOFs demonstrated nanomolar detection limits of 63 ± 11 nM for DA and 40 ± 17 nM for 5-HT through a wide concentration range (40 nM-200 μM). The applicability in biologically relevant detection was further demonstrated in simulated urine using Ni₃HHTP₂ MOFs for the detection of 5-HT with a nanomolar detection limit of 63 ± 11 nM for 5-HT through a wide concentration range (63 nM-200 μM) in the presence of a constant background of DA. The implementation of conductive MOFs in voltammetric detection holds promise for further development of highly modular, sensitive, selective, and stable electroanalytical devices.

Optimization of graphene oxide-modified carbon-fiber microelectrode for dopamine detection

Graphene oxide (GO) is a carbon-based material that is easily obtained from graphite or graphite oxide. GO has been used broadly for electrochemistry applications and our hypothesis is that GO coating a carbon-fiber microelectrode (CFME) will increase the sensitivity for dopamine by providing more adsorption sites due to the enhancement of oxygen functional groups. Here, we compared drop casting, dip coating, and electrodeposition methods to directly coat commercial GO on CFME surfaces. Dip coating did not result in much GO coating and drop casting resulted in large agglomerations that produced noisy signals and slow rise times. Electrodeposition method with cyclic voltammetry increase the current for dopamine and this method was the most reproducible and had the least noise compared to the other two coating methods. The optimized method used a triangular waveform scanned from -1.2 V to 1.5 V at 100 mV/s for 5 cycles in 0.2 mg/mL GO in water. With fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV), the optimized GO/CFME enhanced the dopamine oxidation peak two-fold. The sensitivity of the modified electrode is 41±2 nA/μM with a linear range from 25 nM to 1 μM, and a limit of detection of 11 nM. The optimized electrodes were used to detect electrically-stimulated dopamine in brain slices to demonstrate their performance in tissue. Thus, GO can be used to enhance the sensitivity of electrodes for dopamine and improve biological measurements.

Carbon Nanotube Yarn Microelectrodes Promote High Temporal Measurements of Serotonin Using Fast Scan Cyclic Voltammetry

Carbon fiber-microelectrodes (CFMEs) have been the standard for neurotransmitter detection for over forty years. However, in recent years, there have been many advances of utilizing alternative nanomaterials for neurotransmitter detection with fast scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV). Recently, carbon nanotube (CNT) yarns have been developed as the working electrode materials for neurotransmitter sensing capabilities with fast scan cyclic voltammetry. Carbon nanotubes are ideal for neurotransmitter detection because they have higher aspect ratios enabling monoamine adsorption and lower limits of detection, faster electron transfer kinetics, and a resistance to surface fouling. Several methods to modify CFMEs with CNTs have resulted in increases in sensitivity, but have also increased noise and led to irreproducible results. In this study, we utilize commercially available CNT-yarns to make microelectrodes as enhanced neurotransmitter sensors for neurotransmitters such as serotonin. CNT-yarn microelectrodes have significantly higher sensitivities (peak oxidative currents of the cyclic voltammograms) than CFMEs and faster electron transfer kinetics as measured by peak separation (ΔEP) values. Moreover, both serotonin and dopamine are adsorption controlled to the surface of the electrode as measured by scan rate and concentration experiments. CNT yarn microelectrodes also resisted surface fouling of serotonin onto the surface of the electrode over thirty minutes and had a wave application frequency independent response to sensitivity at the surface of the electrode.

Flexible, diamond-based microelectrodes fabricated using the diamond growth side for neural sensing

Diamond possesses many favorable properties for biochemical sensors, including biocompatibility, chemical inertness, resistance to biofouling, an extremely wide potential window, and low double-layer capacitance. The hardness of diamond, however, has hindered its applications in neural implants due to the mechanical property mismatch between diamond and soft nervous tissues. Here, we present a flexible, diamond-based microelectrode probe consisting of multichannel boron-doped polycrystalline diamond (BDD) microelectrodes on a soft Parylene C substrate. We developed and optimized a wafer-scale fabrication approach that allows the use of the growth side of the BDD thin film as the sensing surface. Compared to the nucleation surface, the BDD growth side exhibited a rougher morphology, a higher sp ³ content, a wider water potential window, and a lower background current. The dopamine (DA) sensing capability of the BDD growth surface electrodes was validated in a 1.0 mM DA solution, which shows better sensitivity and stability than the BDD nucleation surface electrodes. The results of these comparative studies suggest that using the BDD growth surface for making implantable microelectrodes has significant advantages in terms of the sensitivity, selectivity, and stability of a neural implant. Furthermore, we validated the functionality of the BDD growth side electrodes for neural recordings both in vitro and in vivo. The biocompatibility of the microcrystalline diamond film was also assessed in vitro using rat cortical neuron cultures.

Carbon nanospikes have better electrochemical properties than carbon nanotubes due to greater surface roughness and defect sites

Carbon nanomaterials are used to improve electrodes for neurotransmitter detection, but what properties are important for maximizing those effects? In this work, we compare a newer form of graphene, carbon nanospikes (CNSs), with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) grown on wires and carbon fibers (CFs). CNS electrodes have a short, dense, defect-filled surface that produces remarkable electrochemical properties, much better than CNTs or CFs. The CNS surface roughness is 5.5 times greater than glassy carbon, while CNTs enhance roughness only 1.8-fold. D/G ratios are higher for CNS electrodes than CNT electrodes, an indication of more defect sites. For cyclic voltammetry of dopamine and ferricyanide, CNSs have both higher currents and smaller ΔEp values than CNTs and CFs. CNS electrodes also have a very low resistance to charge transfer. With fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV), CNS electrodes have enhanced current density for dopamine and cationic neurotransmitters due to increased adsorption to edge plane sites. This study establishes that not all carbon nanomaterials are equally advantageous for dopamine electrochemistry, but that short, dense nanomaterials that add defect sites provide improved current and electron transfer. CNSs are simple to mass fabricate on a variety of substrates and thus could be a favorable material for neurotransmitter sensing.

Polymer Modified Carbon Fiber-Microelectrodes and Waveform Modifications Enhance Neurotransmitter Metabolite Detection

Carbon-fiber microelectrodes (CFMEs) have been used for several years for the detection of neurotransmitters such as dopamine. Dopamine is a fundamentally important neurotransmitter and is also metabolized at a subsecond timescale. Recently, several metabolites of dopamine have been shown to be physiologically important such as 3-methoxytyramine (3-MT), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), and homovanillic acid (HVA). Many of these neurotransmitter metabolites are currently only detected with microdialysis coupled with liquid chromatography with relatively low temporal and spatial resolution. Current electrochemical methods such as the dopamine waveform (scanning from -0.4 to 1.3 V at 400 V/sec) are utilized to electrostatically repel anions such as DOPAC and promote dopamine adsorption to the surface of the electrode. Moreover, polymer coatings such as Nafion have been shown to electrostatically repel anions such as 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA). In this study, we develop novel polymer and waveform modifications for enhanced DOPAC detection. Applying the DOPAC waveform (scanning from 0 to 1.3 V at 400 V/sec) enhances DOPAC detection significantly because it does not include the negative holding potential of the dopamine waveform. Moreover, positively charged cationic polymers such as polyethyleneimine (PEI) allow for the preconcentration of DOPAC to the surface of the carbon fiber through an electrostatic attraction. The limit of detection for DOPAC for PEI coated CFMEs with the DOPAC waveform applied is 58.2 ± 2 nM as opposed to 291 ± 10 nM for unmodified electrodes applying the dopamine waveform (n = 4). This work offers promise for the development of novel electrode materials and waveforms for the specific detection of several important biomolecules such as dopamine metabolite neurotransmitters.

Review: New insights into optimizing chemical and 3D surface structures of carbon electrodes for neurotransmitter detection

The carbon-fiber microelectrode has been used for decades as a neurotransmitter sensor. Recently, new strategies have been developed for making carbon electrodes, including using carbon nanomaterials or pyrolyzing photoresist etched by nanolithography or 3D printing. This review summarizes how chemical and 3D surface structures of new carbon electrodes are optimized for neurotransmitter detection. There are effects of the chemical structure that are advantageous and nanomaterials are used ranging from carbon nanotube (CNT) to graphene to nanodiamond. Functionalization of these materials promotes surface oxide groups that adsorb dopamine and dopants introduce defect sites good for electron transfer. Polymer coatings such as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) or Nafion also enhance the selectivity, particularly for dopamine over ascorbic acid. Changing the 3D surface structure of an electrode increases current by adding more surface area. If the surface structure has roughness or pores on the micron scale, the electrode also acts as a thin layer cell, momentarily trapping the analyte for redox cycling. Vertically-aligned CNTs as well as lithographically-made or 3D printed pillar arrays act as thin layer cells, producing more reversible cyclic voltammograms. A better understanding of how chemical and surface structure affects electrochemistry enables rational design of electrodes. New carbon electrodes are being tested in vivo and strategies to reduce biofouling are being developed. Future studies should test the robustness for long term implantation, explore electrochemical properties of neurotransmitters beyond dopamine, and combine optimized chemical and physical structures for real-time monitoring of neurotransmitters.

Surface Fouling of Ultrananocrystalline Diamond Microelectrodes during Dopamine Detection: Improving Lifetime via Electrochemical Cycling

In this work, we report the electrochemical response of a boron-doped ultrananocrystalline diamond (BDUNCD) microelectrode during long-term dopamine (DA) detection. Specifically, changes to its electrochemical activity and electroactive area due to DA byproducts and surface oxidation are studied via scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and silver deposition imaging (SDI). The fouling studies with amperometry (AM) and fast scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) methods suggest that the microelectrodes are heavily fouled due to poor DA-dopamine- o-quinone cyclization rates followed by a combination of polymer formation and major changes in their surface chemistry. SDI data confirms the presence of the insulating polymer with sparsely distributed tiny electroactive regions. This resulted in severely distorted DA signals and a 90% loss in signal starting as early as 3 h for AM and a 56% loss at 6.5 h for FSCV. This underscores the need for cleaning of the fouled microelectrodes if they have to be used long-term. Out of the three in vivo suitable electrochemical cycling cleaning waveforms investigated, the standard waveform (-0.4 V to +1.0 V) provides the best cleaned surface with a fully retained voltammogram shape, no hysteresis, no DA signal loss (a 90 ± 0.72 nA increase), and the smallest charge transfer resistance value of 0.4 ± 0.02 MΩ even after 6.5 h of monitoring. Most importantly, this is the same waveform that is widely used for in vivo detection with carbon fiber microelectrodes. Future work to test these microelectrodes for more than 24 h of DA detection is anticipated.

Carbon Nanoelectrodes for the Electrochemical Detection of Neurotransmitters

Carbon-based electrodes have been developed for the detection of neurotransmitters over the past 30 years using voltammetry and amperometry. The traditional electrode for neurotransmitter detection is the carbon fiber microelectrode (CFME). The carbon-based electrode is suitable for in vivo neurotransmitter detection due to the fact that it is biocompatible and relatively small in surface area. The advent of nanoscale electrodes is in high demand due to smaller surface areas required to target specific brain regions that are also minimally invasive and cause relatively low tissue damage when implanted into living organisms. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), carbon nanofibers, carbon nanospikes, and carbon nanopetals among others have all been utilized for this purpose. Novel electrode materials have also required novel insulations such as glass, epoxy, and polyimide coated fused silica capillaries for their construction and usage. Recent research developments have yielded a wide array of carbon nanoelectrodes with superior properties and performances in comparison to traditional electrode materials. These electrodes have thoroughly enhanced neurotransmitter detection allowing for the sensing of biological compounds at lower limits of detection, fast temporal resolution, and without surface fouling. This will allow for greater understanding of several neurological disease states based on the detection of neurotransmitters.

Carbon Nanohorn-Modified Carbon Fiber Microelectrodes for Dopamine Detection

Carbon nanohorns (CNHs), closed cone-shaped cages of sp 2-hybridized carbons, are a promising nanomaterial to improve carbon-fiber microelectrode (CFME) dues to their high specific surface area and edge planes, but few studies have tested their electrochemical properties. Here, we tested the dopamine detection at electrodeposited CNHs on CFME (CNH/CFME). The optimized concentration of CNHs in the deposition solution is 0.5 mg/mL, and the optimized electrodeposition waveform is 10 cycles of triangular waveform scanned from -1.0 V and +1.0 V at 50 mV/s. Using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry, the optimized CNH/CFME enhances dopamine peak current to 2.3 ± 0.2 times that of the CFME. To further increase the current, CNH/CFMEs were oxidized in NaOH (ox-CNH/CFME), which creates more defects and surface oxide groups to adsorb dopamine. The oxidative etching further increases the peak current to 3.5 ± 0.2 times of the CFME, and ox-CNH/CFME had a limit of detection of 6 ± 2 nM. The dopamine anodic current at ox-CNH/CFME was stable for 8 h of continuous scanning. The ox-CNH/CFME enhanced the anodic peak current for other cationic neurotransmitters including epinephrine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, but less enhancement was found for ascorbic acid, showing higher selectivity for cationic molecules. CNHs also decreased tissue biofouling at CFME. Thus, electrodeposited CNHs are a promising new method for increasing the surface area and current of CFMEs for dopamine detection.

Capillary electrophoresis analysis of affinity to assess carboxylation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Surface oxidation improves the dispersion of carbon nanotubes in aqueous solutions and plays a key role in the development of biosensors, electrochemical detectors and polymer composites. Accurate characterization of the carbon nanotube surface is important because the development of these nano-based applications depends on the degree of functionalization, in particular the amount of carboxylation. Affinity capillary electrophoresis is used to characterize the oxidation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes. A polytryptophan peptide that contains a single arginine residue (WRWWWW) serves as a receptor in affinity capillary electrophoresis to assess the degree of carboxylation. The formation of peptide-nanotube receptor-ligand complex was detected with a UV absorbance detector. Apparent dissociation constants (K_D) are obtained by observing the migration shift of the WRWWWW peptide through background electrolyte at increasing concentrations of multi-walled carbon nanotubes. A 20% relative standard deviation in method reproducibility and repeatability is determined with triplicate analysis within a single sample preparation and across multiple sample preparations for a commercially available carbon nanotube. Affinity capillary electrophoresis is applied to assess differences in degree of carboxylation across two manufacturers and to analyze acid treated carbon nanotubes. The results of these studies are compared to X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and zeta potential. Affinity capillary electrophoresis comparisons of carbon nanotube samples prepared by varying acid treatment time from 30 min to 3 h yielded significant differences in degree of carboxylation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis was inconclusive due to potential acid contamination, while zeta potential showed no change based on surface charge. This work is significant to research involving carbon nanotube-based applications because it provides a new metric to rapidly characterize carbon nanotubes obtained from different vendors, or synthesized in laboratories using different procedures.

Carbon Nanotube-Based Microelectrodes for Enhanced Neurochemical Detection

Carbon nanotube (CNT) fiber microelectrodes have been developed as electrode materials for the detection of neurotransmitters using fast scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV). We have used acid-wet spinning to create "neat" carbon nanotube fibers and utilized them as electrode materials. Thirty-forty micron diameter acid spun CNT fiber microelectrodes were more sensitive than PEI-CNT fiber microelectrodes, with a 3 nM limit of detection. They also had faster electron transfer kinetics and a greater reversibility for the oxidation of dopamine using FSCV than CFMEs and other carbon nanomaterials. The acid spun CNT fiber microelectrodes also displayed a frequency independent response for the peak oxidation current of dopamine. This property was also seen in other CNT materials such as PEI-CNT fiber microelectrodes and CNT-Yarn microelectrodes. Upon varying the frequency from 10 Hz to 100 Hz, there was no decrease in sensitivity. When scanning at 2,000 V/s, there was no decrease in sensitivity upon changing the frequency from 10 Hz to 500 Hz. This could potentially allow for a 2 ms sampling rate for FSCV, comparable to those used with amperometry as opposed to 100 ms temporal resolution of traditional FSCV, an almost two orders of magnitude difference. Since the frequency independent response is seen with many CNT fibers/yarns, it suggests it is a fundamental property of the CNTs shared by many types of CNT fibers and yarns.

Advances in biotechnological synthetic applications of carbon nanostructured systems

In the last few years carbon nanostructures have been applied for the immobilization of enzymes and biomimetic organo-metallic species useful for biotechnological applications. The nature of the support and the method of immobilization are responsible for the stability, reactivity and selectivity of the system. In this review, we focus on the recent advances in the use of carbon nanostructures, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanorods, fullerene and graphene for the preparation of biocatalytic and biomimetic systems and for their application in the development of green chemical processes.

O2 Plasma Etching and Antistatic Gun Surface Modifications for CNT Yarn Microelectrode Improve Sensitivity and Antifouling Properties

Carbon nanotube (CNT) based microelectrodes exhibit rapid and selective detection of neurotransmitters. While different fabrication strategies and geometries of CNT microelectrodes have been characterized, relatively little research has investigated ways to selectively enhance their electrochemical properties. In this work, we introduce two simple, reproducible, low-cost, and efficient surface modification methods for carbon nanotube yarn microelectrodes (CNTYMEs): O2 plasma etching and antistatic gun treatment. O2 plasma etching was performed by a microwave plasma system with oxygen gas flow and the optimized time for treatment was 1 min. The antistatic gun treatment flows ions by the electrode surface; two triggers of the antistatic gun was the optimized number on the CNTYME surface. Current for dopamine at CNTYMEs increased 3-fold after O2 plasma etching and 4-fold after antistatic gun treatment. When the two treatments were combined, the current increased 12-fold, showing the two effects are due to independent mechanisms that tune the surface properties. O2 plasma etching increased the sensitivity due to increased surface oxygen content but did not affect surface roughness while the antistatic gun treatment increased surface roughness but not oxygen content. The effect of tissue fouling on CNT yarns was studied for the first time, and the relatively hydrophilic surface after O2 plasma etching provided better resistance to fouling than unmodified or antistatic gun treated CNTYMEs. Overall, O2 plasma etching and antistatic gun treatment improve the sensitivity of CNTYMEs by different mechanisms, providing the possibility to tune the CNTYME surface and enhance sensitivity.

Probe Sensor Using Nanostructured Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube Yarn for Selective and Sensitive Detection of Dopamine

The demands for electrochemical sensor materials with high strength and durability in physiological conditions continue to grow and novel approaches are being enabled by the advent of new electromaterials and novel fabrication technologies. Herein, we demonstrate a probe-style electrochemical sensor using highly flexible and conductive multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) yarns. The MWNT yarn-based sensors can be fabricated onto micro Pt-wire with a controlled diameter varying from 100 to 300 µm, and then further modified with Nafion via a dip-coating approach. The fabricated micro-sized sensors were characterized by electron microscopy, Raman, FTIR, electrical, and electrochemical measurements. For the first time, the MWNT/Nafion yarn-based probe sensors have been assembled and assessed for high-performance dopamine sensing, showing a significant improvement in both sensitivity and selectivity in dopamine detection in presence of ascorbic acid and uric acid. It offers the potential to be further developed as implantable probe sensors.

Evaluation of carbon nanotube fiber microelectrodes for neurotransmitter detection: Correlation of electrochemical performance and surface properties

Fibers made of CNTs are attractive microelectrode sensors because they can be directly fabricated into microelectrodes. Different protocols for making CNT fibers have been developed, but differences in surface structure and therefore electrochemical properties that result have not been studied. In this study, we correlated the surface and electrochemical properties for neurochemical detection at 3 types of materials: CNT fibers produced by wet spinning with (1) polyethylenimine (PEI/CNT) or (2) chlorosulfonic acid (CA/CNT), and (3) CNT yarns made by solid-based CNT drawing. CNT yarns had well-aligned, high purity CNTs, abundant oxygen functional groups, and moderate surface roughness which led to the highest dopamine current density (290 ± 65 pA/cm²) and fastest electron transfer kinetics. The crevices of the CNT yarn and PEI/CNT fiber microelectrodes allow dopamine to be momentarily trapped during fast-scan cyclic voltammetry detection, leading to thin-layer cell conditions and a response that was independent of applied waveform frequency. The larger crevices on the PEI/CNT fibers led to a slower time response, showing too much roughness is detrimental to fast detection. CA/CNT fibers have a smoother surface and lower currents, but their negative surface charge results in high selectivity for dopamine over uric acid or ascorbic acid. Overall, small crevices, high conductivity, and abundant oxygen groups led to high sensitivity for amine neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and serotonin. Thus, different surfaces of CNT fibers result in altered electrochemical properties and could be used in the future to predict and control electrochemical performance.

Laser Treated Carbon Nanotube Yarn Microelectrodes for Rapid and Sensitive Detection of Dopamine in Vivo

Carbon nanotube yarn microelectrodes (CNTYMEs) exhibit rapid and selective detection of dopamine with fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV); however, the sensitivity limits their application in vivo. In this study, we introduce laser treatment as a simple, reliable, and efficient approach to improve the sensitivity of CNTYMEs by three fold while maintaining high temporal resolution. The effect of laser treatment on the microelectrode surface was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, energy dispersion spectroscopy, and laser confocal microscopy. Laser treatment increases the surface area and oxygen containing functional groups on the surface, which provides more adsorption sites for dopamine than at unmodified CNTYMEs. Moreover, similar to unmodified CNTYMEs, the dopamine signal at laser treated CNTYMEs is not dependent on scan repetition frequency, unlike the current at carbon fiber microelectrodes (CFMEs) which decreases with increasing scan repetition frequency. This frequency independence is caused by the significantly larger surface roughness which would trap dopamine-o-quinone and amplify the dopamine signal. CNTYMEs were applied as an in vivo sensor with FSCV for the first time and laser treated CNTYMEs maintained high dopamine sensitivity compared to CFMEs with an increased scan repetition frequency of 50 Hz, which is five-fold faster than the conventional frequency. CNTYMEs with laser treatment are advantageous because of their easy fabrication, high reproducibility, fast electron transfer kinetics, high sensitivity, and rapid in vivo measurement of dopamine and could be a potential alternative to CFMEs in the future.

Carbon Nanotubes Grown on Metal Microelectrodes for the Detection of Dopamine

Microelectrodes modified with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are useful for the detection of neurotransmitters because the CNTs enhance sensitivity and have electrocatalytic effects. CNTs can be grown on carbon fiber microelectrodes (CFMEs) but the intrinsic electrochemical activity of carbon fibers makes evaluating the effect of CNT enhancement difficult. Metal wires are highly conductive and many metals have no intrinsic electrochemical activity for dopamine, so we investigated CNTs grown on metal wires as microelectrodes for neurotransmitter detection. In this work, we successfully grew CNTs on niobium substrates for the first time. Instead of planar metal surfaces, metal wires with a diameter of only 25 μm were used as CNT substrates; these have potential in tissue applications due to their minimal tissue damage and high spatial resolution. Scanning electron microscopy shows that aligned CNTs are grown on metal wires after chemical vapor deposition. By use of fast-scan cyclic voltammetry, CNT-coated niobium (CNT-Nb) microelectrodes exhibit higher sensitivity and lower ΔEp value compared to CNTs grown on carbon fibers or other metal wires. The limit of detection for dopamine at CNT-Nb microelectrodes is 11 ± 1 nM, which is approximately 2-fold lower than that of bare CFMEs. Adsorption processes were modeled with a Langmuir isotherm, and detection of other neurochemicals was also characterized, including ascorbic acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, serotonin, adenosine, and histamine. CNT-Nb microelectrodes were used to monitor stimulated dopamine release in anesthetized rats with high sensitivity. This study demonstrates that CNT-grown metal microelectrodes, especially CNTs grown on Nb microelectrodes, are useful for monitoring neurotransmitters.

Carbon nanospikes grown on metal wires as microelectrode sensors for dopamine

Carbon nanomaterials are advantageous as electrodes for neurotransmitter detection, but the difficulty of nanomaterials deposition on electrode substrates limits the reproducibility and future applications. In this study, we used plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) to directly grow a thin layer of carbon nanospikes (CNS) on cylindrical metal substrates. No catalyst is required and the CNS surface coverage is uniform over the cylindrical metal substrate. The CNS growth was characterized on several metallic substrates including tantalum, niobium, palladium, and nickel wires. Using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV), bare metal wires could not detect 1 μM dopamine while carbon nanospike coated wires could. The highest sensitivity and optimized S/N ratio was recorded from carbon nanospike-tantalum (CNS-Ta) microwires grown for 7.5 minutes, which had a LOD of 8 ± 2 nM for dopamine with FSCV. CNS-Ta microelectrodes were more reversible and had a smaller ΔE(p) for dopamine than carbon-fiber microelectrodes, suggesting faster electron transfer kinetics. The kinetics of dopamine redox were adsorption controlled at CNS-Ta microelectrodes and repeated electrochemical measurements displayed stability for up to ten hours in vitro and over a ten day period as well. The oxidation potential was significantly different for ascorbic acid and uric acid compared to dopamine. Growing carbon nanospikes on metal wires is a promising method to produce uniformly-coated, carbon nanostructured cylindrical microelectrodes for sensitive dopamine detection.

Characterization of Fast-Scan Cyclic Voltammetric Electrodes Using Paraffin as an Effective Sealant with In Vitro and In Vivo Applications

Fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) is a powerful technique for measuring sub-second changes in neurotransmitter levels. A great time-limiting factor in the use of FSCV is the production of high-quality recording electrodes; common recording electrodes consist of cylindrical carbon fiber encased in borosilicate glass. When the borosilicate is heated and pulled, the molten glass ideally forms a tight seal around the carbon fiber cylinder. It is often difficult, however, to guarantee a perfect seal between the glass and carbon. Indeed, much of the time spent creating electrodes is in an effort to find a good seal. Even though epoxy resins can be useful in this regard, they are irreversible (seals are permanent), wasteful (epoxy cannot be reused once hardener is added), hazardous (hardeners are often caustic), and require curing. Herein we characterize paraffin as an electrode sealant for FSCV microelectrodes. Paraffin boasts the advantages of near-immediate curing times, simplicity in use, long shelf-life and stable waterproof seals capable of withstanding extended cycling. Borosilicate electrode tips were left intact or broken and dipped in paraffin embedding wax. Excess wax was removed from the carbon surface with xyelenes or by repeated cycling at an extended waveform (-0.4 to 1.4V, 400 V/s, 60 Hz). Then, the waveform was switched to a standard waveform (-0.4 to 1.3V, 400 V/s, 10 Hz) and cycled until stable. Wax-sealing does not inhibit electrode sensitivity, as electrodes detected linear changes in dopamine before and after wax (then xylenes) exposure. Paraffin seals are intact after 11 days of implantation in the mouse, and still capable of measuring transient changes in in vivo dopamine. From this it is clear that paraffin wax is an effective sealant for FSCV electrodes that provides a convenient substitute to epoxy sealants.

Comparison of dopamine kinetics in the larval Drosophila ventral nerve cord and protocerebrum with improved optogenetic stimulation

Dopamine release and uptake have been studied in the Drosophila larval ventral nerve cord (VNC) using optogenetics to stimulate endogenous release. However, other areas of the central nervous system remain uncharacterized. Here, we compare dopamine release in the VNC and protocerebrum of larval Drosophila. Stimulations were performed with CsChrimson, a new, improved, red light-activated channelrhodopsin. In both regions, dopamine release was observed after only a single, 4 ms duration light pulse. Michaelis-Menten modeling was used to understand release and uptake parameters for dopamine. The amount of dopamine released ([DA]p ) on the first stimulation pulse is higher than the average [DA]p released from subsequent pulses. The initial and average amount of dopamine released per stimulation pulse is smaller in the protocerebrum than in the VNC. The average Vmax of 0.08 μM/s in the protocerebrum was significantly higher than the Vmax of 0.05 μM/s in the VNC. The average Km of 0.11 μM in the protocerebrum was not significantly different from the Km of 0.10 μM in the VNC. When the competitive dopamine transporter (DAT) inhibitor nisoxetine was applied, the Km increased significantly in both regions while Vmax stayed the same. This work demonstrates regional differences in dopamine release and uptake kinetics, indicating important variation in the amount of dopamine available for neurotransmission and neuromodulation. We use a new optogenetic tool, red light activated CsChrimson, to stimulate the release of dopamine in the ventral nerve cord and medial protocerebrum of the larval Drosophila central nervous system. We monitored extracellular dopamine by fast scan cyclic voltammetry and used Michaelis-Menten modeling to probe the regulation of extracellular dopamine, discovering important similarities and differences in these two regions.

Recent trends in carbon nanomaterial-based electrochemical sensors for biomolecules: A review

Carbon nanomaterials are advantageous for electrochemical sensors because they increase the electroactive surface area, enhance electron transfer, and promote adsorption of molecules. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been incorporated into electrochemical sensors for biomolecules and strategies have included the traditional dip coating and drop casting methods, direct growth of CNTs on electrodes and the use of CNT fibers and yarns made exclusively of CNTs. Recent research has also focused on utilizing many new types of carbon nanomaterials beyond CNTs. Forms of graphene are now increasingly popular for sensors including reduced graphene oxide, carbon nanohorns, graphene nanofoams, graphene nanorods, and graphene nanoflowers. In this review, we compare different carbon nanomaterial strategies for creating electrochemical sensors for biomolecules. Analytes covered include neurotransmitters and neurochemicals, such as dopamine, ascorbic acid, and serotonin; hydrogen peroxide; proteins, such as biomarkers; and DNA. The review also addresses enzyme-based electrodes that are used to detect non-electroactive species such as glucose, alcohols, and proteins. Finally, we analyze some of the future directions for the field, pointing out gaps in fundamental understanding of electron transfer to carbon nanomaterials and the need for more practical implementation of sensors.