In the brain neurons transfer information from brain area to brain area using chemical messengers. When the cell bodies in one brain area are activated a message can be transferred along the neuron to the terminals in another area. At the terminals messenger molecules, called neurotransmitters, are released to interact with other neurons. We have created microfabricated structures or platforms for measuring these neurotransmitters, in other words the biochemical response of the brain to stimuli. The microfabricated platforms that we created are minimally invasive and have been implemented for monitoring the release of neurotransmitter in intact brain tissue. We plan to continue to advance this technology and to improve how both measurements of neuronal communication and activation of neurons can be done. Schematic below shows an example of how these platforms can be used to interact with the brain.
Publications from this Project:
1. Zachek, M. K., Takmakov, P., Park, J., Wightman, R. M. & McCarty, G. S. Simultaneous monitoring of dopamine concentration at spatially different brain locations in vivo. Biosensors and Bioelectronics 25, 1179-1185 (2010).
2. Zachek, M. K., Takmakov, P., Moody, B. P., Wightman, R. M. & McCarty, G. S. Simultaneous Decoupled Detection of Dopamine and Oxygen Using Pyrolyzed Carbon Microarrays and Fast-Scan Cyclic Voltammetry. Analytical Chemistry 81, 6258-6265 (2009).
3. Zachek, M. K., Park, J., Takmakov, P., Wightman, R. M. & McCarty, G. S. Microfabricated FSCV-compatible microelectrode array for real-time monitoring of heterogeneous dopamine release. Analyst 135, 1556-1563 (2010).
4. Takmakov, P. et al. Characterization of Local pH Changes in Brain Using Fast-Scan Cyclic Voltammetry with Carbon Microelectrodes. Analytical Chemistry 82, 9892-9900 (2010).
