Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026
09:28
Engineering Molecular Recognition with Bio-mimetic Polymers on Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes
Published on: January 10, 2017
Aptamer-Functionalized SWCNT Optical Sensors for Selective and Robust Dopamine Detection in Physiological Media
Maria Celina Stefoni1,2, Hanan Yafai1, Amelia K Ryan1
1The City College of New York, Biomedical Engineering, New York, NY 10031.
ACS Applied Nano Materials
|June 12, 2026
Summary
We developed novel single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) sensors using aptamers for highly selective dopamine detection. These sensors show robust performance in complex biological fluids, advancing neurological disorder monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Monitoring dopamine is crucial for diagnosing neurological disorders.
- Existing methods face challenges in complex biological environments.
- Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) offer unique optical properties for sensing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and evaluate SWCNT-based near-infrared fluorescent sensors for dopamine detection.
- To improve sensor selectivity and robustness in biological samples.
- To compare the performance of different aptamer-SWCNT sensor constructs.
Main Methods:
- Rational design of SWCNT-aptamer hybrids for dopamine recognition.
- Evaluation of sensor performance in buffer, complex media, and artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF).
- Assessment of sensor constructs with varying passivation agents, including bovine serum albumin (BSA).
Main Results:
- BSA-passivated aptamer-SWCNT sensors demonstrated superior selectivity for dopamine over similar molecules.
- These sensors exhibited an increased magnitude of response compared to non-selective (GT)10-SWCNT constructs.
- Dynamic ranges of 30-200 nM were observed within five minutes in various media.
Conclusions:
- Aptamer-SWCNT sensors provide a selective and robust method for optical dopamine detection.
- These sensors outperform non-selective ssDNA-SWCNT approaches in complex biological settings.
- The developed sensors hold promise for improved neurological disorder diagnosis and monitoring.
