title: Dopamine-, L-DOPA-, adrenaline-, and noradrenaline-induced growth of Au nanoparticles: assays for the detection of neurotransmitters and of tyrosinase activity.
abstract: The neurotransmitters dopamine (1), L-DOPA (2), adrenaline (3), and noradrenaline (4) mediate the generation and growth of Au nanoparticles (Au-NPs). The plasmon absorbance of the Au-NPs allows the quantitative colorimetric detection of the neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters 1, 2, and 4 are sensed with a detection limit of 2.5 x 10(-6) M, whereas the detection limit for analyzing 3 corresponds to 2 x 10(-5) M. The neurotransmitter-mediated growth of the Au-NPs is also used to probe the activity of tyrosinase. The later biocatalyst oxidizes tyrosine to L-DOPA that mediates the growth of the Au-NPs. The analysis of tyrosinase activity is important for detecting melanoma cells and Parkinson disease.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
authors.forename: Ronan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baron
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zayats
authors.forename: Itamar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Willner
mesh_terms: D004298:Dopamine / Q000032:analysis*; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000032:analysis*; D006046:Gold; D007980:Levodopa / Q000032:analysis*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D007980:Levodopa; D006046:Gold; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine