State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Department of Precision Instruments, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
School of Instrumentation and Optoelectronic Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China.
Sci Adv. 2023 Jun 2;9(22):eadg0218. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adg0218.
In vivo detection of neurochemicals, including neurotransmitters and neuromodulators, is critical for both understanding brain mechanisms and diagnosing brain diseases. However, few sensors are competent in monitoring neurochemical dynamics in vivo at high specificity. Here, we propose the fiber-optic probes based on engineered cells (FOPECs) for plug-and-play, real-time detection of neurochemicals in freely moving animals. Taking advantages of life-evolved neurochemical receptors as key components, the chemical specificity of FOPECs is unprecedented. We demonstrate the applications of FOPECs in real-time monitoring of neurochemical dynamics under various physiology and pathology conditions. With no requirement of viral infection in advance and no dependence on animal species, FOPECs can be widely adopted in vertebrates, such as mice, rats, rabbits, and chickens. Moreover, FOPECs can be used to monitor drug metabolisms in vivo. We demonstrated the neurochemical monitoring in blood circulation systems in vivo. We expect that FOPECs will benefit not only neuroscience study but also drug discovery.
在体检测神经化学物质，包括神经递质和神经调质，对于理解大脑机制和诊断脑部疾病至关重要。然而，很少有传感器能够在体内以高特异性监测神经化学物质的动态变化。在这里，我们提出了基于工程细胞的光纤探针（FOPECs），用于在自由活动的动物中进行即插即用、实时的神经化学物质检测。利用生命进化而来的神经化学受体作为关键组件，FOPECs 的化学特异性是前所未有的。我们展示了 FOPECs 在各种生理和病理条件下实时监测神经化学动态的应用。FOPECs 不需要预先进行病毒感染，也不依赖于动物物种，可以广泛应用于脊椎动物，如小鼠、大鼠、兔子和鸡。此外，FOPECs 可以用于监测体内的药物代谢。我们展示了体内血液循环系统中的神经化学监测。我们期望 FOPECs 不仅有益于神经科学研究，也有益于药物发现。
