Functionally Collaborative Nanostructure for Direct Monitoring of Neurotransmitter Exocytosis in Living Cells

Neurotransmitter exocytosis of living cells plays a vital role in neuroscience. However, the available amperometric technique with carbon fiber electrodes typically measures exocytotic events from one cell during one procedure, which requires professional operations and takes time to produce statistical results of multiple cells. Here, we develop a functionally collaborative nanostructure to directly measure the neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) exocytosis from living rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. The functionally collaborative nanostructure is constructed of metal-organic framework (MOF)-on-nanowires-on-graphene oxide, which is highly sensitive to DA molecules and enables direct detection of neurotransmitter exocytosis. Using the microsensor, the exocytosis from PC12 cells pretreated with the desired drugs (e.g., anticoronavirus drug, antiflu drug, or anti-inflammatory drug) has been successfully measured. Our achievements demonstrate the feasibility of the functionally collaborative nanostructure in the real-time detection of exocytosis and the potential applicability in the highly efficient assessment of the modulation effects of medications on exocytosis.