The “Nanoribbon Sentinel”: a cell-surface aptasensor for real-time imaging of gliotransmitter release

Abstract

We report a cell-surface-anchored “Nanoribbon Sentinel”, an aptasensor overcoming endocytosis for real-time, high-resolution imaging of ATP on live astrocytes. This design uniquely couples a non-internalizing scaffold with a fast-kinetic “signal-on” aptamer, enabling high temporal resolution. The sensor successfully captured the transient, localized release of ATP from mechanically stimulated cells, offering a powerful new tool to study neurochemical signaling.