Neurotransmitter Sensing with Graphene Quantum Dots

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are semiconductor nanomaterials with a unique set of properties that make them highly promising in various therapeutic applications, including biological imaging and sensing. These nanomaterials are highly biocompatible, biodegradable, cost-effective, and easy to synthesize with unique size-dependent fluorescent emissions. This project aims to develop improved methods for sensing neurotransmitters with low concentrations in the blood. The fluorescence of the GQDs upon interaction with these molecules quenched (or decreased) at varying concentrations, allowing for unique molecular fingerprints of different analytes. We have successfully measured serotonin at blood-relevant concentrations using NIR fluorescence and obtained reproducible results by pre-stabilizing GQDs in 1X PBS, better mimicking biological conditions. Data on dopamine, hydrocortisone, and oxytocin will also be collected. Visual analysis and machine learning will be used to detect patterns in the emission spectra of GQDs in the presence of these analytes.