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Published on: September 16, 2014
All-MXene electronic tongue for neurotransmitters detection
Murilo H M Facure1, Gulnaz Gahramanova2, Danzhen Zhang3
1Nanotechnology National Laboratory for Agriculture (LNNA), Embrapa Instrumentação, 13560-970, Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil; PPGQ, Department of Chemistry, Center for Exact Sciences and Technology, Federal University of Sao Carlos (UFSCar), 13565-905, Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil; A. J. Drexel Nanomaterials Institute and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
A novel MXene-based electronic tongue offers sensitive monitoring of neurotransmitters (NTs). This rapid, accurate sensor array detects multiple NTs at low concentrations, aiding in early disease diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Biosensing
Background:
- Neurotransmitter (NT) imbalances are linked to various disorders and neurodegenerative diseases.
- Current NT detection methods are often invasive or unsuitable for simultaneous multi-analyte analysis.
- Accurate and rapid NT monitoring is crucial for clinical diagnostics and understanding brain function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a sensitive, multi-analyte impedimetric electronic tongue (e-tongue) for neurotransmitter monitoring.
- To utilize MXene materials as sensing elements for enhanced sensor performance.
- To validate the e-tongue's capability for detecting and quantifying neurotransmitters in complex samples.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of an electronic tongue using Nb2C, Nb4C3, Mo2C, and Mo2Ti2C3 MXenes as sensing units.
- Impedimetric measurements for neurotransmitter detection and differentiation.
- Principal Component Analysis (PCA) for data processing and pattern recognition.
Main Results:
- The MXene-based e-tongue demonstrated high sensitivity and reproducibility for neurotransmitter detection.
- Simultaneous detection and differentiation of multiple neurotransmitters (acetylcholine, dopamine, glycine, glutamate, histamine, tyrosine) down to 1 nmol L-1.
- Accurate quantification of neurotransmitters in mixtures and validation in actual samples, showing potential for clinical diagnostics.
Conclusions:
- The developed MXene-based impedimetric e-tongue provides a rapid, sensitive, and accurate platform for neurotransmitter monitoring.
- This technology holds significant promise for early disease diagnosis and clinical applications.
- MXene materials offer excellent properties for advanced electrochemical sensing applications.

