Bioengineering Seminar Series - Dr. Anne Andrews

Dr. Anne Andrews, Professor of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, Chemistry & Biochemistry, and Bioengineering at University of California, Los Angeles, will present "Advancing Neurotransmitter Monitoring."

Abstract

Our research advances methods for in vivo neurotransmitter monitoring with high temporal, spatial, and chemical resolution. Building on Ralph Adams' pioneering work, we coupled online microdialysis with HPLC and electrochemical detection to enable rapid, near-real-time multiplexed neurotransmitter monitoring in behaving animals. For direct sampling, we developed rapid-pulse voltammetry coupled to machine learning. To address waveform design challenges, we developed a Bayesian optimization workflow to efficiently identify high-information waveforms. Our background-inclusive rapid-pulse voltammetry enables simultaneous in vivo monitoring of dopamine and serotonin, for example. We provide open-source software, including SeroWare—an end-to-end platform for data acquisition and analysis—that supports a wide range of voltammetry formats, from pulses to scans. These tools are applicable to a range of electrochemical analytes, forming a pipeline for optimizing multi-analyte detection and machine-learning analysis. To extend to non-electrochemically active neurotransmitters and hormones, we designed DNA aptamer-based biosensors coupled with field-effect transistors for implantable and wearable monitoring. We investigate the effects of transgenerational stress and are developing wearable, multiplexed biomarker systems for personalized stress insights.