Molecularly Imprinted Polymer for Serotonin Recognition

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) is a biogenic amine that acts as a neurotransmitter in the central and peripheral nervous systems [1]. It is present in a variety of organisms, ranging from humans to species such as worms that have primitive nervous systems [2], and mediates a variety of physiological responses in distinct cell types. It is believed to play a role in the regulation of various cognitive and behavioral functions, including sleep, mood, pain, depression, anxiety, aggression, and learning [3-5]. Disruptions in serotonergic systems are implicated as critical factors in mental disorders such as schizophrenia, depression, infantile autism, and obsessive compulsive disorder [6-7]. In clinical chemistry of serotonin, focus is also on the diagnosis and follow-up of carcinoid tumors. Platelet serotonin may be the most sensitive indole marker for the detection of carcinoid tumors that secrete only small amounts of serotonin [8].