Extending Lifetime of In-Brain EAB sensors for Awake measurements in rodents

Real-time monitoring of drug and molecular concentrations in the brain is essential for understanding how neuroactive compounds influence addiction-related behaviors and neural function. By tracking intracranial drug levels in rats over time, compartment-specific brain clearance can be characterized. Although microdialysis has been widely used for this purpose, it is limited by poor temporal resolution and its inability to provide continuous measurements in awake animals. In this project, a three-electrode electrochemical aptamer-based (EAB) sensor was engineered with custom housing to extend prior in vivo brain measurements. The sensor was miniaturized to fit within a cannula implanted in the rodent skull, enabling access to the lateral ventricle or the striatum. Measurements in awake rodents demonstrated at least 8 hours of stable, low-noise data collection, enabling reliable comparisons across animals and providing insight into drug concentration dynamics and clearance.