Advances in the design and fabrication of flexible, wearable, and implantable electrochemical neurotransmitter sensors

초록

Neurotransmitters (NTs) are chemical messengers that play essential roles in the human body, influencing processes such as digestion, mood regulation, memory, learning, heart rate, muscle movement, sleep patterns, blood pressure, and so forth. Maintaining optimal levels of these NTs is essential for normal physiological functioning. Conversely, imbalances in NT levels are frequently associated with various neurological and neurodegenerative disorders, including dementia, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, accurate quantification of NTs in bodily fluids is essential for understanding brain function and the progression of related diseases. Among the various detection technologies available, electrochemical sensors stand out due to their high sensitivity, selectivity, rapid response, low sample volume requirements, and real-time detection capabilities. Furthermore, these sensors can be miniaturized and integrated into portable formats, facilitating the development of wearable, point-of-care (PoC), and implantable electrochemical sensors. These advanced technologies not only enhance patient care but also enable autonomous monitoring, instantaneous data acquisition, and analysis. Thus, we sought to write a concise review focusing on recent advances in materials design and engineering for electrochemical NT sensors. Special emphasis is placed on flexible, wearable, and implantable sensor platforms, as they are particularly promising for real-time applications. To the best of our knowledge, no existing review comprehensively addresses these aspects. Advancing research in this direction may usher in a new era of dynamic NT monitoring, offering improved understanding of the occurrence and development of brain diseases and their treatment outcomes.

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