Multifunctional Nanoscale Electrochemical Scanning Probe Platform to Probe Real-time Neurotransmitter Secretion at Living Cells

This project focuses on the development of a novel chemical measurement platform that integrates nanoelectrochemistry, fluorescence microscopy, and electrophysiology for interdisciplinary advancements spanning chemical measurement science, electrochemistry, microscopy, nanoscience, cancer biology, and neuroscience. Specifically, this project will investigate how communication between human cancer cells takes place at nanometer resolution, focusing on a key neurotransmitter that is difficult to measure using conventional electrodes. Neurotransmitters are signaling molecules that help communicate messages between cells, such as neurons; however, their roles in non-neuronal cells remain to be elucidated. Understanding how this communication takes place in space and time is critical to understanding neurochemical signaling. In education and outreach, "Nanoelectrochemistry AND Neuroscience Outreach (NANO)" education projects will be developed to teach neurochemistry, cancer biology, and nanoscience to children from Preschools and K-12 schools, which is important to help children develop positive attitudes toward science. This project will train undergraduate and graduate students and the postdoctoral scholar in interdisciplinary research while developing essential professional skills, e.g., communication, teamwork, and problem solving, to prepare them for future career success. An integrated NanoElectrochemistry-Electrophysiology-Fluorescence (NEEF) platform will be developed to measure 1) real-time chemical transmitter secretion, 2) action potential firing, and 3) intracellular calcium activity of glioblastoma simultaneously, enabling an unprecedented understanding of neurotransmitter release. Nano-resolved scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) will be used to position the nanoelectrodes within nanometers of the release sites of glioblastoma cells to achieve high signal-to-noise measurements. This project characterizes the neurochemical secretion of small human cells, specifically glioblastoma, with high temporal dynamics, neurotransmitter quantitation, and spatial resolution. The successful outcomes will have a broad impact on analytical chemistry, neuroscience, and cancer biology while developing a NANO education project to promote early-childhood education, teaching, and learning of both college and graduate students. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.