A new strategy to improve the sensitivity and selectivity of dopamine detection

We applied the combination of in situ electrochemical liquid-phase microextraction and square-wave voltammetric stripping analysis for the first time as a highly sensitive and selective approach for the detection of dopamine. A mixed gel of graphene sheets and an ionic liquid of 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium hexaflurophosphate(OMim PF6) was used as a micro liquid-phase to pre-concentrate dopamine by controlled potential electrolysis from an aqueous solution(as a donor phase), followed by square-wave voltammetric stripping detection. Under optimized conditions, a linear calibration curve was obtained in the range of 0.05 to 1.0 ?mol/L in the presence of excess ascorbic acid and uric acid. The detection limit has been found to be 8.0 nmol/L(S/N=3).

Detecting the apoptosis of dopamine neurons with immunohistochemical staining and double-staining technique

BACKGROUND： It is proved that the onset of Parkinson disease companies with neuronal apoptosis of dopamine in substantia nigra of midbrain. Previous researches on neuronal apoptosis of dopamine were analyzed on their consecutive tissue sections with immunohistochemical single-labeling method, immunofluorescence and electron microscope, and there are significant differences.OBJECTIVE ： To observe the feasibility of neuronal apoptosis of dopamine with in situ end labeling and tyrosine-hydroxylase antibody immunohistochemical double-labeling staining technique.DESIGN ： Controlled study.SETTING： College of Pharmacology of Taishan Medical College; College of Management of Taishan Medical College. MATERIALS ： Wistar rats with 2 weeks old and of clean grade were provided by the Animal Center of Taishan Medical College. In situ end labeling kit （terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase, mixed reactive solution of nucleotide, transfusion-POD）, monoclonal antibody of rat antibody against tyrosine hydroxylase （Boehriuser）. METHODS： The experiment was completed at the Pharmacological Laboratory of Taishan Medical College from February to December 2005. Tissue from midbrain of rats was taken out to make paraffin sections to observe the neuronal apoptosis of dopamine under microscope with in situ end labeling and tyrosine-hydroxylase antibody immunohistochemical double-labeling staining technique.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES ： Neuronal apoptosis of dopamine with in situ end labeling and tyrosine-hydroxylase antibody immunohistochemical double-labeling staining technique. RESULTS： ① After double-labeling staining, two kinks of positive products were observed in neurons of dopamine which were suffered from apoptosis. One stained with tyrosine hydroxylase was hyacinthine, and the other stained with in situ end labeling was buffy. Cells of positive products stained with in situ end labeling shaped as strap and bend and was distributed in clustering. Cytoplasm was hyacinthine, staining was symmetrical, and cellular ecphyma was observed. Nucleus was stained vacantly which was coincidence with form of neurons of dopamine. ②Apoptosis showed strictly in cytoplasm and nucleus at the aspect of morphology. Cytoplasm stained with in situ end labeling was hardly to recognize because of the usage of double-labeling staining technique, but nucleus was still characterized by apoptosis. The behavior of positive products stained with in situ end labeling was described as following： nucleus was buffy; karyopycnosis was round and irregular; caryotin was integrated into clump which was distributed at the border of nucleus and shaped as demilune and anular; positive signals were limited in nucleus and coincidence with morphological changes of apoptosis. However, blue and positive products were observed in cytoplasm of neurons of dopamine which did not occur apoptosis, and the nucleus was not labeled. Therefore, processing apoptosis of neurons of dopamine could be recognized. CONCULSION： Double-labeling staining technique can be used to correctly reveal histological and morphological changes of neuronal apoptosis of dopamine during its onset and development.

Simple colorimetric detection of dopamine using modified silver nanoparticles

Dopamine(DA) plays an important role in health and peripheral nervous systems. Colorimetric detection of DA has the advantage of color change and simplicity in operation and instrumentation. Herein, we report a highly sensitive and selective colorimetric detection of DA by using two specific ligands modified Ag nanoparticles, where the DA molecules can make dual recognition with high specificity. The colloidal suspension of modified Ag nanoparticles was agglomerated after interacting with DA, while the color of Ag nanoparticles suspension changed from yellow to brown, arising from the interparticle plasmon coupling during the aggregation of Ag nanoparticles. The modified Ag nanoparticles suspension and agglomeration were confirmed by transmission electron microscope images. The optical properties behind the color change were thoroughly investigated by using UV-Vis and Raman techniques. The changes in p H, zeta potential, particle size and surface charge density by adding DA were also determined by using dynamic light scattering measurements. The detection limits of modified Ag probes for DA was calculated to be 6.13′10^(-6) mol L^(-1)(S/N=2.04) and the correlation co-efficient was determined to be 0.9878. Because of the simplicity in operation and instrumentation of the colorimetric method, this work may afford a feasible, fast approach for detecting and monitoring the DA levels in physiological and pathological systems.

Flexible dopamine-sensing fiber based on potentiometric method for long-term detection in vivo

Achieving real-time,continuous and long-term monitoring of dopamine(DA)in vivo is essential for revealing brain functions and preventing and treating neurogenic diseases.However,it remains challenging to achieve a low limit of detection(LOD)and high neuron-compatibility at the same time for the current microsensors,resulting in the failure of long-term and accurate detection of DA in vivo.A DA-sensing fiber was achieved by the potentiometric method to possess a low LOD of 5 nM,1-3 orders of magnitude lower than amperometry and differential-pulse voltammetry.The sensing fiber showed a wide linear range from 5 to 185 nM that well matched the DA concentration(26-40 nM)in vivo.After implantation,the sensing fiber showed no influence on the firing rates of neurons with the potentiometric test,indicating high neuron-compatibility.It was then integrated with electrophysiology to simultaneously monitor DA variation and electrical signal in the brain,with stable monitoring of DA change in vivo for 8 weeks.The sensing fiber was flexible and stably worked after hundreds of bending,and it showed high sensitivity even after protein adsorption,thus offering a reliable tool for neuroscience.

Fabrication of the ZnO/NiO p–n junction foam for the enhanced sensing performance

P-Type NiO foam with rough nanostructured surface was prepared by the surface treatment of Ni foam,and then it was decorated with n-type ZnO nanopyramids to construct a 3D p–n junction foam. The p–n junction foam was used for electrochemical detection of dopamine and the sensing performance was improved significantly compared with the single NiO and ZnO. High sensitivity（171 mμA/mmol/L）, fast response（2 s）, excellent selectivity and stability were achieved. It was attributed to the introduction of numerous p–n junction interfaces, the interfacial potential barrier played as a tuning factor for the electrochemical determination of dopamine. The results demonstrated it would be an important way to improve the biosensing performance by introducing the p–n junction interfaces.