A portable electrochemical sensing platform for serotonin detection based on surface-modified carbon fiber microelectrodes

Anal Methods. 2023 Mar 2;15(9):1096-1104. doi: 10.1039/d2ay01627c.

Abstract

Serotonin (5-HT) is one of the key neurotransmitters in the human body, regulating numerous physiological functions. A disruption in 5-HT homeostasis could result in serious health problems, including neurodegenerative disorders, depression, and 5-HT syndrome. Detection of 5-HT concentrations in biological fluids, such as urine, is a potential solution for early diagnosis of these diseases. In this study, we developed a novel, simple, and low-cost electrochemical sensing platform consisting of a portable workstation with customized electrodes for 5-HT detection in artificial biological fluids. Nafion/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and electrochemically modified carbon fiber microelectrodes (Nafion-CNT/EC CFMEs) displayed improved 5-HT sensitivity and selectivity. Together with a customized Ag/AgCl reference electrode and Pt counter electrode, the portable 5-HT sensing platform had a sensitivity of 0.074 μA μM-1 and a limit of detection (LOD) of 140 nM. This system was also assessed to measure 5-HT spiked in artificial urine samples, showing nearly full recovery rates. These satisfactory results demonstrated that the portable system exhibits outstanding performance and confirmed the feasibility of 5-HT detection, which can be used to provide point-of-care analysis in actual biological samples.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Carbon Fiber
  • Humans
  • Microelectrodes
  • Nanotubes, Carbon*
  • Serotonin*

Substances

  • perfluorosulfonic acid
  • Serotonin
  • Carbon Fiber
  • Nanotubes, Carbon