Open Access3D-Printed Carbon Nanoelectrodes for In Vivo Neurotransmitter Sensing
Author(s) -
Qun Cao,
Mimi Shin,
Nickolay V. Lavrik,
B. Jill Venton
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
nano letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.853
H-Index - 488
eISSN - 1530-6992
pISSN - 1530-6984
DOI - 10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c02844
Subject(s) - microelectrode , nanotechnology , materials science , fabrication , electrode , carbon fibers , 3d printing , cyclic voltammetry , microfabrication , optoelectronics , chemistry , electrochemistry , composite number , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology , composite material
Direct laser writing, a nano 3D-printing approach, has enabled fabrication of customized carbon microelectrode sensors for neurochemical detection. However, to detect neurotransmitters in tiny biological organisms or synapses, submicrometer nanoelectrodes are required. In this work, we used 3D printing to fabricate carbon nanoelectrode sensors. Customized structures were 3D printed and then pyrolyzed, resulting in free-standing carbon electrodes with nanotips. The nanoelectrodes were insulated with atomic layer deposition of Al 2 O 3 and the nanotips were polished by a focused ion beam to form 600 nm disks. Using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry, the electrodes successfully detected stimulated dopamine in the adult fly brain, demonstrating that they are robust and sensitive enough to use in tiny biological systems. This work is the first demonstration of 3D printing to fabricate free-standing carbon nanoelectrode sensors and will enable batch fabrication of customized nanoelectrode sensors with precise control and excellent reproducibility.