Gold Nanoparticle Modified Carbon Fiber Microelectrodes for Enhanced Neurochemical Detection

Summary

In this study, we modify carbon-fiber microelectrodes with gold nanoparticles to enhance the sensitivity of neurotransmitter detection.

Abstract

For over 30 years, carbon-fiber microelectrodes (CFMEs) have been the standard for neurotransmitter detection. Generally, carbon fibers are aspirated into glass capillaries, pulled to a fine taper, and then sealed using an epoxy to create electrode materials that are used for fast scan cyclic voltammetry testing. The use of bare CFMEs has several limitations, though. First and foremost, the carbon fiber contains mostly basal plane carbon, which has a relatively low surface area and yields lower sensitivities than other nanomaterials. Furthermore, the graphitic carbon is limited by its temporal resolution, and its relatively low conductivity. Lastly, neurochemicals and macromolecules have been known to foul at the surface of carbon electrodes where they form non-conductive polymers that block further neurotransmitter adsorption. For this study, we modify CFMEs with gold nanoparticles to enhance neurochemical testing with fast scan cyclic voltammetry. Au³⁺ was electrodeposited or dipcoated from a colloidal solution onto the surface of CFMEs. Since gold is a stable and relatively inert metal, it is an ideal electrode material for analytical measurements of neurochemicals. Gold nanoparticle modified (AuNP-CFMEs) had a stability to dopamine response for over 4 h. Moreover, AuNP-CFMEs exhibit an increased sensitivity (higher peak oxidative current of the cyclic voltammograms) and faster electron transfer kinetics (lower Δ_EP or peak separation) than bare unmodified CFMEs. The development of AuNP-CFMEs provides the creation of novel electrochemical sensors for detecting fast changes in dopamine concentration and other neurochemicals at lower limits of detection. This work has vast applications for the enhancement of neurochemical measurements. The generation of gold nanoparticle modified CFMEs will be vitally important for the development of novel electrode sensors to detect neurotransmitters in vivo in rodent and other models to study neurochemical effects of drug abuse, depression, stroke, ischemia, and other behavioral and disease states.

Introduction

Carbon-fiber microelectrodes (CFMEs)¹ are best used as biosensors to detect the oxidation of several crucial neurotransmitters², including dopamine³, norepinephrine⁴, serotonin⁵, adenosine⁶, histamine⁷, and others⁸. The biocompatibility and size of carbon fibers make them optimal for implantation as there is mitigated tissue damage compared to larger standard electrodes.⁹ CFMEs are known to possess useful electrochemical properties and are capable of makin....

Protocol

1. Construction of carbon-fiber microelectrodes

1. Preparation of carbon fibers
   1. To create carbon-fiber microelectrodes, first separate the carbon fibers (carbon fiber,7 μm in diameter) one by one using hands, gloves, and spatula.
   2. Pull or yank one fiber from the twisted yarn.
   3. Aspirate an isolated carbon fiber into a glass capillary (single-barrel borosilicate capillary glass without microfilament, 1.2 mm outer diameter, 0.68 mm inner diameter).
   4. Cr.......

Discussion

In this study, we demonstrate a novel method to construct gold-nanoparticle modified carbon fiber microelectrodes for the detection of neurotransmitters such as dopamine using fast scan cyclic voltammetry. The method is an efficient, green, and relatively inexpensive approach to enhancing the sensitivity of biomolecule detection. The thickness of gold deposited onto the surface of the carbon fiber can be controlled by the time of electrodeposition and the concentration of gold present in the electrodeposition solution. G.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Dopamine hydrochloride	Sigma Aldrich	H8502-5G
Phosphate Buffered Saline	Sigma Aldrich	P5493-1L
Pine WaveNeuro Potentiostat	Pine Instruments	NEC-WN-BASIC	This orders comes in bulk with all other accessories such as headstages, adapters, cords, and other electronics
Pine Flow Cell and Micromanipulator	Pine Instruments	NEC-FLOW-1	This is also another bulk order including the micromanipulator, flow cell, knobs, tubing, connectors, etc.
Glass-Capillary	A-M Systems	602500
T-650 Carbon Fiber	Goodfellow	C 005711
Epon 828 Epoxy	Miller-Stephenson	EPON 828 TDS
Diethelynetriamine	Sigma Aldrich	D93856-5ML
Gold (III) chloride	Sigma Aldrich	254169	Comes as either HAuCl4 or AuCl3
pH meter	Fisher	S90528
Farraday Cage	AMETEK TMC	81-334-03
Syringe Pump	NEW ERA PUMP	NE-1000
Eppendorf Pipettes and Tips	Eppendorf	2231000222	This is also a bulk order containing multiple pipettes and tips
10 -1,000 mL beakers	VWR	10536-390
Carbon fiber	Goodfellow	C 005711
SEM	JEOL	JSM-IT100