Chemical Research in Chinese Universities ›› 2020, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (4): 729-730.doi: 10.1007/s40242-020-0066-6

• Highlights • Previous Articles     Next Articles

A Chemical Approach for Real-time Monitoring Neuronal Activities

LI Qian, FAN Chunhai   

  1. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, P. R. China
  • Received:2020-03-19 Revised:2020-03-21 Online:2020-08-01 Published:2020-07-30
  • Contact: FAN Chunhai E-mail:fanchunhai@sjtu.edu.cn

Abstract: In the latest issue of Nature Nanotechnology, Ling and coworkers reported the first potassium nanosensor applicable in a freely moving animal. It was developed by embedding the mesoporous silica nanoparticle framework with optical potassium indicators and then shielding the framework with an ultrathin layer of a potassium-permeable membrane. This nanosensor achieved highly sensitive monitoring of the dynamic changes of the extracellular potassium in the brain of freely moving mice with epilepsy.