title: Integrated Carbon Nanostructures for Detection of Neurotransmitters.
abstract: Carbon-based materials, such as diamond-like carbon (DLC), carbon nanofibers (CNFs), and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), are inherently interesting for neurotransmitter detection due to their good biocompatibility, low cost and relatively simple synthesis. In this paper, we report on new carbon-hybrid materials, where either CNTs or CNFs are directly grown on top of tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C). We show that these hybrid materials have electrochemical properties that not only combine the best characteristics of the individual "building blocks" but their synergy makes the electrode performance superior compared to conventional carbon based electrodes. By combining ta-C with CNTs, we were able to realize electrode materials that show wide and stable water window, almost reversible electron transfer properties and high sensitivity and selectivity for detecting dopamine in the presence of ascorbic acid. Furthermore, the sensitivity of ta-C + CNF hybrids towards dopamine as well as glutamate has been found excellent paving the road for actual in vivo measurements. The wide and stable water window of these sensors enables detection of other neurotransmitters besides DA as well as capability of withstanding higher potentials without suffering from oxygen and hydrogen evolution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation, School of Electrical Engineering, Aalto University, 02150, Espoo, Finland, sami.sainio@aalto.fi.
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sainio
authors.forename: Tommi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Palomäki
authors.forename: Noora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tujunen
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Protopopova
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koehne
authors.forename: Krisztian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kordas
authors.forename: Jari
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koskinen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meyyappan
authors.forename: Tomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Laurila
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D004298:Dopamine / Q000032:analysis; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004566:Electrodes; D004867:Equipment Design; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D057139:Nanofibers; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D012825:Silicon
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D002244:Carbon; D004298:Dopamine; D012825:Silicon