We realize a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) which is imprinted with the
retinal neurotransmitter glutamate. The films prepared by electrochemical
deposition have a smooth surface with a granular morphology as observed using
an atomic force microscope. Multiple reflection attenuated total reflection
infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)
are used to chemically confirm the imprint of a neurotransmitter in the MIP at
the solid–liquid and the solid–air interface, respectively. Fluorescence
spectroscopy using the dye fluorescamine is used to monitor the changes in
neurotransmitter concentration in various solvents induced by application of
voltage to the MIP. By controlling neurotransmitter trafficking across a
solid–liquid interface with voltage, we suggest the possibility of using such
a neurotransmitter imprinted MIP for chemical stimulation of retinal neurons.
The current state of the art approach to restore sight in certain cases of
blindness is the replacement of damaged photoreceptors by a subretinal implant
consisting of light-sensitive photodiodes. Thus a future perspective of our
work would be to chemically stimulate the neurons by replacing the photodiodes
in the subretinal implant by the neurotransmitter imprinted polymer film
