Aptamer‐Based Galvanic Potentiometric Sensor for Real‐Time Monitoring of Serotonin Signaling Under Psychosocial Stress

Abstract

Abstract Psychosocial stress, a pervasive factor in mental health disorders, is tightly linked to serotonin (5‐HT) dysregulation. Real‐time electrochemical monitoring of 5‐HT in vivo is challenged by interference from vitamin C (Vc) and biofouling, requiring invasive pretreatments. We present a self‐powered aptamer‐engineered galvanic sensor (aptGRP 5‐HT ) that integrates phosphorothioate aptamers with a redox potentiometric mechanism, achieving 21.5‐fold higher selectivity and 98.3‐fold enhanced sensitivity against Vc over conventional sensors while resisting electrochemical biofouling. The aptGRP 5‐HT operates in complex biological environments without pretreatment, enabling direct monitoring in a rodent psychosocial stress model. Using this tool, we uncover a neurochemical signature of social hierarchy: high‐ranking mice exhibit elevated 5‐HT release in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), with region‐specific correlations to neuronal activity‐reduced spontaneous firing in the mPFC and increased activity in the DRN. This work resolves long‐standing challenges in neurochemical sensing and establishes aptGRP 5‐HT as a transformative platform for probing brain function and stress‐related disorders.