Comparative Study of Fluorophores for Precise Dopamine Detection and Investigation of Its Association with Stress and Coffee Addiction in HEK 293 Cells

Abstract

In today’s world, where stress and addiction are increasingly prevalent due to job pressures and coping mechanisms, dopamine (Dopa), a key hormone linked to mood, happiness, and mental health, has become vital for understanding conditions like depression and anxiety. Our study focuses on detecting Dopa pathways both in vitro using HEK293 cells and in vivo using zebrafish under stress and addiction conditions. We employed a biocompatible organic fluorophore (P1), with pyrazole-4-carboxaldehyde as the recognition unit, which demonstrated a detection limit of 8.2 nM, aligning with physiological Dopa levels. P1’s efficacy in detecting Dopa was validated in human samples (urine, blood, and serum) and artificial samples, confirming its potential for real-world applications. This research is crucial for developing better diagnostic tools and therapies for dopamine-related disorders, offering significant societal benefits for addressing mental health challenges.