CAREER: Carbon nanotube modified microelectrodes for insect neurotransmitter detection

由分析和表面化学项目颁发的CAREER奖支持弗吉尼亚大学主校区B. Jill Venton教授的工作。这项工作的目标是开发用于实时测量果蝇神经递质的微电极传感器。碳纳米管修饰电极和快速电化学技术将成为昆虫神经递质章鱼胺和酪胺的新型传感器的基础。这些改良的电极将被用来描述果蝇神经系统中神经传递的实时变化。果蝇是一种理想的模式生物，因为它们很容易被基因改造，这将是测量果蝇神经递质动态变化的第一个方法。Venton教授还计划开发一系列教育模块，使教师能够在他们的课程中引入分析化学对社会影响的实际例子。这项工作将增加神经递质电化学的基础知识，并导致高灵敏度电极的发展。此外，研究果蝇神经传递的新方法将使我们更好地理解控制神经传递的基本生物学过程。

This CAREER award by the Analytical and Surface Chemistry program supports work by Professor B. Jill Venton at the University of Virginia Main Campus. The goal of this work is to develop microelectrode sensors for real-time measurements of neurotransmitters in fruit flies. Carbon nanotube modified electrodes and fast electrochemical techniques will be developed as the basis for new sensors for the insect neurotransmitters octopamine and tyramine. These modified electrodes will be then used to characterize real-time changes in neurotransmission in the fruit fly nervous system. Fruit flies are an ideal model organism because they are easily genetically modified and this will be the first method for measuring dynamic changes in neurotransmitters in the fruit fly. Prof. Venton also plans to develop a series of educational modules that will allow faculty to introduce into their curriculum practical examples of the impact of analytical chemistry on society. This work will add to the fundamental knowledge of the electrochemistry of neurotransmitters and result in the development of highly sensitive electrodes. In addition, the new method to study neurotransmission in the fruit fly will allow a better understanding of the basic biological processes governing neurotransmission.