Neurochemical Detection at the Nanoscale
Aptamer-modified nanopipettes were developed with the vision of accessing neuronal communication at synapses that occur at nanoscale spatial dimensions. This innovation integrates DNA aptamers into quartz nanopipettes with pore openings approximately 10 nm in width. Upon binding to spec ific targets, the aptamers undergo structural changes that regulate the flow of ionic current by rearranging local charge densities and surrounding solution ions. The confined sensing area of the aptamer-modified nanopipettes effectively excludes larger biomolecules, protecting the sensor from degradation when deployed in biofluids. These biosensors enable label-free measurements directly in complex media eliminating the need for sample pre-treatment of dilution. Serotonin and dopamine-specific nanopipette sensors have been validated and deployed in both in vitro neuronal media, and ex vivo brain tissue slices, demonstrating their potential applicability in fundamental neuroscience research.
