Development of Partially Illuminated Light Addressable Electrochemical Sensors to Detect in vitro Catecholamine Neuromodulator Release
Presentation Type
Poster
Faculty Advisor
Glen O’Neil
Access Type
Event
Start Date
26-4-2024 2:15 PM
End Date
26-4-2024 3:15 PM
Description
Catecholamine neuromodulator release occurs in the synapses between nerve cells within the human body which allows cells to communicate with one another. However, determining the amounts in which these catecholamine neuromodulators are released is currently a challenge. We are developing light-addressable electrochemical (LAE) sensors to study the release of catecholamine neuromodulator release from cells in vitro. LAE sensors are semiconducting sensors that are able to be made light addressable through the formation of a Schottky junction between the surface of the semiconductor, silicon, and a high work function metal, such as gold, which allows the band gap to be bridged by electrons that are excited using visible light. To accomplish this goal, we must first quantify and understand the spatial resolution of partially illuminated LAE sensors. In this study, we designed and characterized a photoelectrochemical cell for partial illumination of the LAE sensor with simultaneous characterization of the incident light beam. Characterization of fabricated LAE sensors is done with cyclic voltammetry and atomic force microscopy in order to determine electrochemical response and surface morphology. Currently, electrochemical response is tested in ferrocene methanol (FcMeOH), which is known for its fast outer-sphere heterogeneous electron transfer kinetics. Currently with cyclic voltammogram measurements, it’s been shown that we can fabricate the LAE sensors in a reproducible manner that differs from our previous fabrication methods.
Development of Partially Illuminated Light Addressable Electrochemical Sensors to Detect in vitro Catecholamine Neuromodulator Release
Catecholamine neuromodulator release occurs in the synapses between nerve cells within the human body which allows cells to communicate with one another. However, determining the amounts in which these catecholamine neuromodulators are released is currently a challenge. We are developing light-addressable electrochemical (LAE) sensors to study the release of catecholamine neuromodulator release from cells in vitro. LAE sensors are semiconducting sensors that are able to be made light addressable through the formation of a Schottky junction between the surface of the semiconductor, silicon, and a high work function metal, such as gold, which allows the band gap to be bridged by electrons that are excited using visible light. To accomplish this goal, we must first quantify and understand the spatial resolution of partially illuminated LAE sensors. In this study, we designed and characterized a photoelectrochemical cell for partial illumination of the LAE sensor with simultaneous characterization of the incident light beam. Characterization of fabricated LAE sensors is done with cyclic voltammetry and atomic force microscopy in order to determine electrochemical response and surface morphology. Currently, electrochemical response is tested in ferrocene methanol (FcMeOH), which is known for its fast outer-sphere heterogeneous electron transfer kinetics. Currently with cyclic voltammogram measurements, it’s been shown that we can fabricate the LAE sensors in a reproducible manner that differs from our previous fabrication methods.