研究実績の概要 |
We have shown that multifunctional fibers with electrodes, optical waveguides and microfluidic channels are useful tools to investigate the astrocyte dynamics with neuronal activities in the anxieties and autism spectrum disorders. In this year, we focused on integrating biochemical sensing capabilities in fibers, which can enable the detailed analysis of chemicals in astrocyte-neuron interactions in various brain disorders. First, via integrating a functional component, i.e., the semiconductor based pH imaging sensor, with multifunctional fibers, we developed an all-in-one miniature pH microscope for visualizing intrinsic pH dynamics in deep brain structures. We were able to observe detailed pH changes in hippocampus in both health and diseased states of the brain with high spatial and temporal resolutions. In addition, we also synthesized new carbon nanotube (CNT) based composites and fabricated composite fibers that can be used for probing dopamine concentrations in brain. Currently we are able to detect dopamine concentration down to 10 nM in vitro settings. In this year, we have successfully integrated biochemical sensing modalities into multifunctional fibers, which can read in-brain pH and dopamine dynamics. In the future, we would like to further improve the fiber-based chemical probe with high spatial, temporal and chemical resolutions for the detailed investigation of brain chemicals.
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