Detection of Dopamine Based on Aptamer-Modified Graphene Microelectrode

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Dopamine (DA) detection is crucial in neuroscience and clinical diagnostics.
• Existing detection methods often suffer from low sensitivity and selectivity.
• Development of novel electrochemical sensors is needed for accurate DA monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate a novel aptamer-modified nitrogen-doped graphene microelectrode (Apt-Au-N-RGOF).
• To achieve specific and sensitive detection of dopamine (DA).
• To evaluate the performance of the Apt-Au-N-RGOF for electrochemical analysis.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of nitrogen-doped graphene fibers.
• Loading gold nanoparticles onto graphene fibers.
• Modification with aptamers via Au-S bonds to create the Apt-Au-N-RGOF.
• Electrochemical detection of dopamine.

Main Results:

• The Apt-Au-N-RGOF demonstrated specific identification of DA, minimizing interference.
• The sensor exhibited significantly higher sensitivity compared to the unmodified N-RGOF microelectrode.
• A low detection limit of 0.5 μM and a wide linear range of 1–100 μM were achieved.

Conclusions:

• The developed Apt-Au-N-RGOF is a highly sensitive and selective electrochemical sensor for dopamine detection.
• The sensor's performance indicates its potential for practical applications in electrochemical analysis.
• This work presents a promising strategy for designing advanced aptasensors.