Improved longevity and in vivo performance of neurotransmitter detection using 30 µm cone-shaped carbon fiber microelectrode

Fast Scan Cyclic Voltammetry (FSCV) is a widely used electrochemical technique to detect rapid extracellular dopamine transients in vivo. It employs carbon fiber microelectrodes (CFMEs), but conventional 7 µm diameter CFMEs often suffer from limited mechanical durability and reduced lifespan, hinder...

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Main Authors: Haeun Kwon, Hyun-U Cho, Jeongeun Sim, Kyung-Jun Boo, Yumin Kang, Sangmun Hwang, Youngjong Kwak, Jaehyun Jang, Kyung Min Kim, Se Jin Jeon, Chan Young Shin, Kevin E. Bennet, Yoonbae Oh, Hojin Shin, Kendall H. Lee, Dong Pyo Jang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2025.1579380/full
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author Haeun Kwon
Hyun-U Cho
Jeongeun Sim
Kyung-Jun Boo
Kyung-Jun Boo
Yumin Kang
Sangmun Hwang
Youngjong Kwak
Jaehyun Jang
Kyung Min Kim
Se Jin Jeon
Chan Young Shin
Kevin E. Bennet
Kevin E. Bennet
Yoonbae Oh
Yoonbae Oh
Hojin Shin
Hojin Shin
Kendall H. Lee
Kendall H. Lee
Dong Pyo Jang
Dong Pyo Jang
author_facet Haeun Kwon
Hyun-U Cho
Jeongeun Sim
Kyung-Jun Boo
Kyung-Jun Boo
Yumin Kang
Sangmun Hwang
Youngjong Kwak
Jaehyun Jang
Kyung Min Kim
Se Jin Jeon
Chan Young Shin
Kevin E. Bennet
Kevin E. Bennet
Yoonbae Oh
Yoonbae Oh
Hojin Shin
Hojin Shin
Kendall H. Lee
Kendall H. Lee
Dong Pyo Jang
Dong Pyo Jang
author_sort Haeun Kwon
collection DOAJ
description Fast Scan Cyclic Voltammetry (FSCV) is a widely used electrochemical technique to detect rapid extracellular dopamine transients in vivo. It employs carbon fiber microelectrodes (CFMEs), but conventional 7 µm diameter CFMEs often suffer from limited mechanical durability and reduced lifespan, hindering their use in chronic monitoring. To improve mechanical robustness and long-term functionality, we fabricated 30 µm diameter CFMEs and modified their geometry via electrochemical etching to form cone-shaped tips. We compared the in vitro and in vivo performance of 7 µm, 30 µm bare, and 30 µm cone-shaped CFMEs using FSCV. Electrode longevity was assessed, and biocompatibility was evaluated via immunofluorescence analysis of brain tissue. In vitro, the 30 µm bare CFMEs showed 2.7-fold higher sensitivity (33.3 ± 5.9 pA/µm2, n = 5) compared to 7 µm CFMEs (12.2 ± 4.9 pA/µm2, n = 5). However, in vivo dopamine detection was significantly reduced in 30 µm bare CFMEs (12.9 ± 8.1 nA, n = 5) relative to 7 µm CFMEs (24.6 ± 8.5 nA, n = 5), likely due to tissue damage. Cone-shaped modification of 30 µm CFMEs resulted in a 3.7-fold improvement in vivo dopamine signals (47.5 ± 19.8 nA, n = 5) and significantly lower glial activation based on Iba1 and GFAP markers. Furthermore, erosion tests revealed a 4.7-fold increase in lifespan compared to 7 µm CFMEs. These results suggest that while increasing CFME diameter improves sensitivity, it also increases tissue damage in vivo. The cone-shaped geometry effectively mitigates insertion-induced damage, enhancing in vivo performance and biocompatibility. This design offers a promising approach for long-term neurotransmitter monitoring and potential integration into closed-loop neuromodulation systems.
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spelling doaj-art-c8692c56a4ae445e9e4014b38588e6eb2025-08-22T05:26:52ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology2296-41852025-08-011310.3389/fbioe.2025.15793801579380Improved longevity and in vivo performance of neurotransmitter detection using 30 µm cone-shaped carbon fiber microelectrodeHaeun Kwon0Hyun-U Cho1Jeongeun Sim2Kyung-Jun Boo3Kyung-Jun Boo4Yumin Kang5Sangmun Hwang6Youngjong Kwak7Jaehyun Jang8Kyung Min Kim9Se Jin Jeon10Chan Young Shin11Kevin E. Bennet12Kevin E. Bennet13Yoonbae Oh14Yoonbae Oh15Hojin Shin16Hojin Shin17Kendall H. Lee18Kendall H. Lee19Dong Pyo Jang20Dong Pyo Jang21Department of Electronic Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of KoreaSchool of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of KoreaSOSO H&C Co., Seoul, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Electronic Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Healthcare Digital Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of KoreaSchool of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United StatesDivision of Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United StatesDepartment of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United StatesDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United StatesDepartment of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United StatesDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United StatesDepartment of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United StatesDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United StatesDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Healthcare Digital Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of KoreaFast Scan Cyclic Voltammetry (FSCV) is a widely used electrochemical technique to detect rapid extracellular dopamine transients in vivo. It employs carbon fiber microelectrodes (CFMEs), but conventional 7 µm diameter CFMEs often suffer from limited mechanical durability and reduced lifespan, hindering their use in chronic monitoring. To improve mechanical robustness and long-term functionality, we fabricated 30 µm diameter CFMEs and modified their geometry via electrochemical etching to form cone-shaped tips. We compared the in vitro and in vivo performance of 7 µm, 30 µm bare, and 30 µm cone-shaped CFMEs using FSCV. Electrode longevity was assessed, and biocompatibility was evaluated via immunofluorescence analysis of brain tissue. In vitro, the 30 µm bare CFMEs showed 2.7-fold higher sensitivity (33.3 ± 5.9 pA/µm2, n = 5) compared to 7 µm CFMEs (12.2 ± 4.9 pA/µm2, n = 5). However, in vivo dopamine detection was significantly reduced in 30 µm bare CFMEs (12.9 ± 8.1 nA, n = 5) relative to 7 µm CFMEs (24.6 ± 8.5 nA, n = 5), likely due to tissue damage. Cone-shaped modification of 30 µm CFMEs resulted in a 3.7-fold improvement in vivo dopamine signals (47.5 ± 19.8 nA, n = 5) and significantly lower glial activation based on Iba1 and GFAP markers. Furthermore, erosion tests revealed a 4.7-fold increase in lifespan compared to 7 µm CFMEs. These results suggest that while increasing CFME diameter improves sensitivity, it also increases tissue damage in vivo. The cone-shaped geometry effectively mitigates insertion-induced damage, enhancing in vivo performance and biocompatibility. This design offers a promising approach for long-term neurotransmitter monitoring and potential integration into closed-loop neuromodulation systems.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2025.1579380/fullElectrochemistrycarbon fiber microelectrodeelectrochemical etchingdopaminelongevitytissue damage
spellingShingle Haeun Kwon
Hyun-U Cho
Jeongeun Sim
Kyung-Jun Boo
Kyung-Jun Boo
Yumin Kang
Sangmun Hwang
Youngjong Kwak
Jaehyun Jang
Kyung Min Kim
Se Jin Jeon
Chan Young Shin
Kevin E. Bennet
Kevin E. Bennet
Yoonbae Oh
Yoonbae Oh
Hojin Shin
Hojin Shin
Kendall H. Lee
Kendall H. Lee
Dong Pyo Jang
Dong Pyo Jang
Improved longevity and in vivo performance of neurotransmitter detection using 30 µm cone-shaped carbon fiber microelectrode
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
Electrochemistry
carbon fiber microelectrode
electrochemical etching
dopamine
longevity
tissue damage
title Improved longevity and in vivo performance of neurotransmitter detection using 30 µm cone-shaped carbon fiber microelectrode
title_full Improved longevity and in vivo performance of neurotransmitter detection using 30 µm cone-shaped carbon fiber microelectrode
title_fullStr Improved longevity and in vivo performance of neurotransmitter detection using 30 µm cone-shaped carbon fiber microelectrode
title_full_unstemmed Improved longevity and in vivo performance of neurotransmitter detection using 30 µm cone-shaped carbon fiber microelectrode
title_short Improved longevity and in vivo performance of neurotransmitter detection using 30 µm cone-shaped carbon fiber microelectrode
title_sort improved longevity and in vivo performance of neurotransmitter detection using 30 µm cone shaped carbon fiber microelectrode
topic Electrochemistry
carbon fiber microelectrode
electrochemical etching
dopamine
longevity
tissue damage
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2025.1579380/full
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