We are developing carbon nanotube-modified microelectrodes for in vivo sensors. Carbon nanotubes have interesting electrical, chemical and mechanical properties. In electrochemical research, the conductivity of the tubes, a consequence of their electronic properties, has been exploited as a means of promoting electron transfer. A variety of biologically-relevant, redox-active species have been studied at carbon nanotube-modified electrodes including hydrogen peroxide, NADH, cytochrome C, dopamine, and proteins. While the use of carbon nanotubes in biosensors is promising, few studies have addressed the need for fast detection of biological molecules in order to follow the kinetics of biological responses. Therefore, our aim is to characterize detection of neurotransmitters at carbon nanotube-modified electrodes with fast scan cyclic voltammetry. Our hypothesis is that adding carbon nanotubes will increase the electrode surface area, increasing the number of adsorption sites that will lead to greater sensitivity for adsorbed species.
Diagram of a single-walled nanotube.
