Nanocomposite-Based Electrochemical Sensors for Neurotransmitters Detection in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Abstract

Neurotransmitters (NTs) are crucial regulatory molecules responsible for maintaining the neurophysiological functioning of the brain. Dysregulated levels of certain NTs, such as dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, epinephrine, glutamate, and gamma-aminobutyric acid, are often correlated with the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases that involve the progressive and selective loss of structure or function of neuronal systems. Therefore, the identification and validation of relevant biomarkers are essential to diagnose these diseases much earlier. However, the quantitative analysis of NTs is challenging because of their dynamic release and presence of low concentrations. Accordingly, nanocomposite (NC)-based electrochemical sensors have been studied extensively and are gaining tremendous interest due to their high sensitivity, response rate, stability, portability, ease of use in point-of-care diagnostics, amenability to microprocessing, and low cost. In this review, we first briefly discuss the potential biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases, NC-based electrochemical sensors and their advantages and disadvantages, and the properties of the NCs, which further increase the sensor performance. Finally, we summarized the future perspectives of NC-based electrochemical sensors in the clinical set-up for NTs detection to identify research gaps.

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“…Additionally, the introduction of electronegative polymers and molecularly imprinted polymers could actively repel the negatively charged interferents, thus eliminating the effects of interferences. However, completely eliminating the interferences of NE, EP, and DA is unavoidable and necessitates the introduction of advanced analytical techniques and/or specially tailored nanomaterials [45].…”

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“…3,5 Therefore, the level of DA in human serum and urine can be used as a diagnostic criterion for brain diseases and nervous system disorders. 2,3 The fast detection of DA in human blood and urine is important not only for therapy, but also for early diagnostics of brain diseases. 6 Different analytical methods such as enzymatic approaches, spectrometry, uorescence, and chromatography are well known in the literature to detect DA.…”

“…4 Conversely, a low level of DA is associated with schizophrenia, depression, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. 3,5 Therefore, the level of DA in human serum and urine can be used as a diagnostic criterion for brain diseases and nervous system disorders. 2,3 The fast detection of DA in human blood and urine is important not only for therapy, but also for early diagnostics of brain diseases.…”

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“…The physiological levels of DA in healthy human serum lie between 0.01 and 10 μM. Several neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease (PD), schizophrenia, Tourette’s syndrome, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and pituitary tumors, may be exacerbated by DA dysregulation or changes [ 2 , 3 ]. Among these, PD is an incurable neurodegenerative disease, which is characterized by the progressive loss of substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons in the affected brain areas.…”