title: Neurotransmitter Specific, Cellular-Resolution Functional Brain Mapping Using Receptor Coated Nanoparticles: Assessment of the Possibility.
abstract: Receptor coated resonant nanoparticles and quantum dots are proposed to provide a cellular-level resolution image of neural activities inside the brain. The functionalized nanoparticles and quantum dots in this approach will selectively bind to different neurotransmitters in the extra-synaptic regions of neurons. This allows us to detect neural activities in real time by monitoring the nanoparticles and quantum dots optically. Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) with two different geometries (sphere and rod) and quantum dots (QDs) with different sizes were studied along with three different neurotransmitters: dopamine, gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA), and glycine. The absorption/emission spectra of GNPs and QDs before and after binding of neurotransmitters and their corresponding receptors are reported. The results using QDs and nanorods with diameter 25nm and aspect rations larger than three were promising for the development of the proposed functional brain mapping approach.
authors.affiliation: Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92098, United States of America.
authors.forename: Ebrahim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Forati
authors.affiliation: Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92098, United States of America.
authors.forename: Abas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sabouni
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92098, United States of America.
authors.forename: Supriyo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92098, United States of America.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Head
authors.affiliation: Nanopartz Inc., Loveland, CO 80537, United States of America.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schoen
authors.affiliation: Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92098, United States of America.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sievenpiper
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D003199:Computer Systems; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D005998:Glycine / Q000378:metabolism; D006046:Gold; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000648:ultrastructure; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008959:Models, Neurological; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000378:metabolism; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D006046:Gold; D005998:Glycine; D004298:Dopamine