Molecularly engineered supramolecular fluorescent chemodosimeter for measuring epinephrine dynamics

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Chemical Biology
• Biomedical Imaging

Background:

• Accurate visualization of epinephrine (EP) activity is crucial for understanding brain function and disease.
• Existing methods lack the reliability, speed, and specificity for cellular and in vivo EP dynamics measurement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel probe for real-time imaging and biosensing of epinephrine in neurons and living brains.
• To enable precise quantification of EP dynamics at cellular and in vivo levels.

Main Methods:

• Creation of supramolecular fluorescent chemodosimeters utilizing host-guest interactions.
• Optimization of the chemodosimeter for high specificity, sensitivity, signal-to-noise ratio, and rapid kinetics (~240 ms).
• Application in neurons, brain tissues, zebrafish, and freely behaving mice.

Main Results:

• The optimized chemodosimeter achieved real-time imaging and quantification of EP.
• Demonstrated high specificity, sensitivity, signal-to-noise ratio, and rapid kinetics.
• Successfully monitored EP in 26 deep brain regions of freely behaving mice, revealing elevated EP under fear-induced stress in areas like the amygdala and hippocampus.

Conclusions:

• The developed chemodosimeter is a powerful tool for precise measurement of EP dynamics.
• Enables real-time monitoring of EP in diverse model organisms.
• Provides new insights into EP's role in stress responses within the brain.