Nitric oxide monitoring in brain extracellular fluid: characterisation of Nafion-modified Pt electrodes in vitro and in vivo.

A Nafion(5 pre-coats/2 dip-coats)-modified Pt sensor developed for real-time neurochemical monitoring has now been characterised in vitro for the sensitive and selective detection of nitric oxide (NO). A potentiodynamic profile at bare Pt established +0.9 V (vs.

Calibration of NO sensors for in-vivo voltammetry: laboratory synthesis of NO and the use of UV-visible spectroscopy for determining stock concentrations.

The increasing scientific interest in nitric oxide (NO) necessitates the development of novel and simple methods of synthesising NO on a laboratory scale. In this study we have refined and developed a method of NO synthesis, using the neutral Griess reagent, which is inexpensive, simple to perform, and provides a reliable method of generating NO gas for in-vivo sensor calibration. The concentration of the generated NO stock solution was determined using UV-visible spectroscopy to be 0.

Microelectrochemical sensors for in vivo brain analysis: an investigation of procedures for modifying Pt electrodes using Nafion.

Various Nafion coating procedures were examined in order to design a simple and reproducible coating method to maximise permselective characteristics, and thus eliminate signals from electroactive interferents, in sensors designed for direct in vivo measurements in the brain. Interferents investigated included ascorbic acid (AA), the principal endogenous electroactive interferent present in the brain, and uric acid. Application of the Nafion (5% commercial solution) using a thermally annealing procedure involving 5 pre-coats, and 2 subsequent dip-bake layers resulted in elimination of interferent signals.