Neuropeptide Y (NPY) plays a central role in a variety of emotional and physiological functions in humans. Most notably, it has been found to possess anxiolytic properties, thus forming a part of the body’s response to stress and anxiety. Moreover, it has been found that NPY can be detected in sweat, and that sweat-extracted levels correlate with those measured in plasma. This provides an opportunity for wearable NPY sensors to be developed. To this end, this work aims to develop a potentiometric NPY sensor. An NPY-specific DNA aptamer with thiol termination has been immobilized onto the gold electrode surface. The performance of the sensor is compared when either an MCH- or PEG-based self-assembled monolayer is formed following aptamer immobilization. Non-specific adhesion of NPY to the MCH-based sensor surface was observed via surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and then confirmed via potentiometry. It is then shown that PEG modifies the amount of non-specific adhesion compared to the surfaces with an MCH-based SAM. We demonstrate the detection of pM-range NPY levels in buffer with this approach, thus demonstrating the promise of potentiometric sensing of NPY for future wearable deployment.

Performance of an aptamer-based neuropeptide Y potentiometric sensor: dependence on surface preparation

ACS Fall 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.