RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Distinguishing dopamine and calcium responses using XNA-nanotube sensors for improved neurochemical sensing
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2021.02.20.428669
DO 10.1101/2021.02.20.428669
A1 Alice J. Gillen
A1 Alessandra Antonucci
A1 Melania Reggente
A1 Daniel Morales
A1 Ardemis A. Boghossian
YR 2021
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/02/20/2021.02.20.428669.abstract
AB To date, the engineering of single-stranded DNA-SWCNT (DNA-SWCNT) optical biosensors have largely focused on creating sensors for new applications with little focus on optimising existing sensors for in vitro and in vivo conditions. Recent studies have shown that nanotube fluorescence can be severely impacted by changes in local cation concentrations. This is particularly problematic for neurotransmitter sensing applications as spatial and temporal fluctuations in the concentration of cations, such as Na+, K+, or Ca2+, play a central role in neuromodulation. This can lead to inaccuracies in the determination of neurotransmitter concentrations using DNA-SWCNT sensors, which limits their use for detecting and treating neurological diseases.Herein, we present new approaches using locked nucleic acid (LNA) to engineer SWCNT sensors with improved stability towards cation-induced fluorescence changes. By incorporating LNA bases into the (GT)15-DNA sequence, we create sensors that are not only more resistant towards undesirable fluorescence modulation in the presence of Ca2+ but that also retain their capabilities for the label-free detection of dopamine. The synthetic biology approach presented in this work therefore serves as a complementary means for enhancing nanotube optoelectronic behavior, unlocking previously unexplored possibilities for developing nano-bioengineered sensors with augmented capabilities.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.