Figure 1.

Strategy to measure and optimize selectivity and sensitivity of neurotransmitter sensors. Candidate sensors are synthesized from single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and DNA oligonucleotides and their responses to the neurotransmitters dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine are quantified. Crucial for the success of these sensors is the discrimination between different, but chemically very similar, neurotransmitters. In this work, a set of different DNA-oligonucleotides is tested as an organic phase and corresponding sensor properties, such as K_d-values, are evaluated to find the most selective and robust sensors.