Bioelectronic nose: Current status and perspectives

Artificial Olfactory Biohybrid System: An Evolving Sense of Smell

The olfactory system can detect and recognize tens of thousands of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at low concentrations in complex environments. Bioelectronic nose (B-EN), which mimics olfactory systems, is becoming an emerging sensing technology for identifying VOCs with sensitivity and specificity. B-ENs integrate electronic sensors with bioreceptors and pattern recognition technologies to enable medical diagnosis, public security, environmental monitoring, and food safety. However, there is currently no commercially available B-EN on the market. Apart from the high selectivity and sensitivity necessary for volatile organic compound analysis, commercial B-ENs must overcome issues impacting sensor operation and other problems associated with odor localization. The emergence of nanotechnology has provided a novel research concept for addressing these problems. In this work, the structure and operational mechanisms of biomimetic olfactory systems are discussed, with an emphasis on the development and immobilization of materials. Various biosensor applications and current developments are reviewed. Challenges and opportunities for fulfilling the potential of artificial olfactory biohybrid systems in fundamental and practical research are investigated in greater depth.

Ultrasensitive Flexible Olfactory Receptor-Derived Peptide Sensor for Trimethylamine Detection by the Bending Connection Method

Trimethylamine (TMA) is a harmful gas that exists ubiquitously in the environment; therefore, the sensitive and specific monitoring of TMA is necessary. In this work, we prepared ultrasensitive flexible sensors for TMA detection based on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and olfactory receptor-derived peptides (ORPs) on low-cost plastic substrates. A novel bending connection method was developed by intentionally bending the interdigitated electrodes with SWCNTs to form a three-dimensional structure during the ORP-connection process, leading to the exposure of more modification sites. The method showed ∼4.7-fold more effective connection amount of the ORPs to SWCNTs compared to the conventional flat-condition connection method. The flexible ORP-SWCNT sensors could significantly improve the limit of detection for gaseous TMA from the reported lowest limit of 10 parts per quadrillion (ppq) to 0.1 ppq. The flexible ORP sensors also exhibited excellent sensitivity to vaporized TMA standards and TMA generated by different kinds of foods under different bending conditions. The results showed that the bending connection method in this work was effective for ultrasensitive flexible ORP sensors and their associated applications.

Competitive Detection of Volatile Compounds from Food Degradation by a Zinc Oxide Sensor

During the phenomenon of food degradation, several volatile organic compounds are generally released. In particular, due to lipid oxidation in stored and packed meat, hexanal is formed as a typical decomposition product. Therefore, its detection can provide an important indication of the quality and conservation of meat. Unfortunately, the simultaneous release of other compounds, such as 1-pentanol and 1-octen-3-ol, during the first phase of the degradation process can have an undesirable effect on the detection of hexanal. In this work, a metal oxide (MOX) sensor based on zinc oxide (ZnO) was prepared and tested for possible use in the monitoring of low concentrations of hexanal. The sensor was expected to detect the target volatile with minimum interference from all the others, when released all at the same time. For this purpose, the ZnO sensor was exposed to both pure and different mixtures of vapors of the main competing organic compounds. Comparing the results of the mixtures to the response relating to pure hexanal, it was highlighted that the presence of 1-pentanol and 1-octen-3-ol decreases the response of the sensor to hexanal in terms of the eR/R0 ratio, especially at low concentrations (5–10 ppm), while at 50 ppm, the sensor response was comparable with the hexanal quantity, proving that its detection was less affected at higher concentrations.

Implementation of biohybrid olfactory bulb on a high-density CMOS-chip to reveal large-scale spatiotemporal circuit information

Large-scale multi-site biosensors are essential to probe the olfactory bulb (OB) circuitry for understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics of simultaneous discharge patterns. Current ex-vivo biosensing techniques are limited to recording a small set of neurons and cannot provide an adequate resolution, which hinders revealing the fast dynamic underlying the information coding mechanisms in the OB circuit. Here, we demonstrate a novel biohybrid OB-CMOS biosensing platform to decipher the cross-scale dynamics of the OB electrogenesis and quantify the distinct neuronal coding properties. The approach with 4096-microelectrodes offers a non-invasive, label-free, bioelectrical imaging to decode simultaneous firing patterns from thousands of connected neuronal ensembles in acute OB slices. The platform can measure spontaneous and drug-induced extracellular field potential activity with substantially improved spatiotemporal resolution over conventional OB-based biosensors. Also, we employ our OB-CMOS recordings to perform multidimensional analysis to instantiate specific neurophysiological metrics underlying the olfactory spatiotemporal coding that emerged from the OB interconnected layers. Our results delineate the computational implications of large-scale activity patterns in functional olfactory processing. The systematic interplay of the experimental CMOS-base platform architecture and the high-content characterization of the olfactory circuit with various computational analyses endow significant functional interrogations of the OB information processing, high-spatiotemporal connectivity mapping, and global circuit dynamics. Thus, our study can inspire the design of advanced biomimetic olfactory-based biosensors and neuromorphic approaches for diagnostic biomarkers and drug discovery applications.

Aptamer-Assisted Protein Orientation on Silver Magnetic Nanoparticles: Application to Sensitive Leukocyte Cell-Derived Chemotaxin 2 Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensors

Leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin 2 (LECT2) has been proved to be a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis. In this work, a sensitive surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay for LECT2 analysis was developed. Tyrosine kinase with immune globulin-like and epidermal growth factor-like domains 1 (Tie1) is an orphan receptor of LECT2 with a C-terminal Fc tag, which is far away from the LECT2 binding sites. The Fc aptamer was intentionally used to capture the Tie1 through its Fc tag, connecting with Fe₃O₄-coated silver magnetic nanoparticles (Ag@MNPs) and ensuring the LECT2 binding site to be outward. Attributed to the orientation nature of the captured protein, Ag@MNPs were able to enhance the SPR signal. A sensitive LECT2 sensor was successfully fabricated with a detection limit of 10.93 pg/mL. The results showed that the immobilization method improved the binding efficiency of Tie1 protein. This strategy could be extended to attach antibodies or recombinant Fc label proteins to Fc aptamer-based nanoparticles.

Tensiometry as a Simple Analytical Method for Quantification of Solubility and Release of Aroma Molecules in Aqueous Media

Dynamic tensiometry is shown to be a high-potential analytical tool in assessing physico-chemical characteristics of fragrance molecules, such as solubility limit, volatility as well as much rarely assessed interfacial activity of these amphiphilic molecules. Surface tension of aqueous solutions of selected essential oils has been measured as a function of time and fragrance concentration using maximum bubble pressure method. The effect of the temperature and saline solution on the rate of dissolution in water was assessed. Dynamic surface tension turned to be sensitive to the composition of fragrances, as demonstrated on examples of natural and synthetic mixtures. Furthermore, presented work reveals the possibility of maximum bubble pressure tensiometry method to quantify the amount of fragrance compositions in flavored salts, including the artificially aged carrier samples. Suggested here analytical approach can be used for the detection of the purity of essential oils, for the optimization of compositions and of the manufacturing processes of fragrances-containing products, as well as for the assessment of the release/evaporation of fragrances from carrier systems.

An Update on the Use of Exhaled Breath Analysis for the Early Detection of Lung Cancer

Lung cancer has historically been the main responsible for cancer associated deaths. Owing to this is our current inability to screen for and diagnose early pathological findings, preventing us from a timely intervention when cure is still achievable. Over the last decade, together with the extraordinary progress in therapeutical alternatives in the field, there has been an ongoing search for a biomarker that would allow for this. Numerous technologies have been developed but their clinical application is yet to come. In this review, we provide an update on volatile organic compounds, a non-invasive method that can hold the key for detecting early metabolic pathway changes in carcinogenesis. For its compilation, web-based search engines of scientific literature such as PubMed were explored and reviewed, using articles, research, and papers deemed meaningful by authors discretion. After a brief description, we depict how this technique can complement current methods and present the value of electronic noses in the identification of the “breathprint”. Lastly, we bring some of the latest updates in the field together with the current limitations and final remarks.

Principles of odor coding in vertebrates and artificial chemosensory systems

The biological olfactory system is the sensory system responsible for the detection of the chemical composition of the environment. Several attempts to mimic biological olfactory systems have led to various artificial olfactory systems using different technical approaches. Here we provide a parallel description of biological olfactory systems and their technical counterparts. We start with a presentation of the input to the systems, the stimuli, and treat the interface between the external world and the environment where receptor neurons or artificial chemosensors reside. We then delineate the functions of receptor neurons and chemosensors as well as their overall I-O relationships. Up to this point, our account of the systems goes along similar lines. The next processing steps differ considerably: while in biology the processing step following the receptor neurons is the "integration" and "processing" of receptor neuron outputs in the olfactory bulb, this step has various realizations in electronic noses. For a long period of time, the signal processing stages beyond the olfactory bulb, i.e., the higher olfactory centers were little studied. Only recently there has been a marked growth of studies tackling the information processing in these centers. In electronic noses, a third stage of processing has virtually never been considered. In this review, we provide an up-to-date overview of the current knowledge of both fields and, for the first time, attempt to tie them together. We hope it will be a breeding ground for better information, communication, and data exchange between very related but so far little connected fields.

Embedded gas sensing setup for air samples analysis

This paper describes a measurement setup (eNose) designed to analyze air samples containing various volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The setup utilizes a set of resistive gas sensors of divergent gas selectivity and sensitivity. Some of the applied sensors are commercially available and were proposed recently to reduce their consumed energy. The sensors detect various VOCs at sensitivities determined by metal oxide sensors' technology and operating conditions. The setup can utilize prototype gas sensors, made of resistive layers of different compositions, as well. Their properties can be modulated by selecting operating temperature or using UV light irradiation. The unit is controlled by an embedded system M5Stack Core2 ESP32 IoT. We used this development kit to program the measurement procedure and data recording fastly. The setup utilizes an aluminum gas chamber of a volume of 220 ml, a set of electrical valves to introduce there an air sample with the help of an electrical micropump. The handling of the setup was simplified to a selection of a few operations by touch screen only without a necessity of extra training. The recorded data are saved in a memory card for further processing. The evolved setup can be upgraded to apply more advanced data processing by utilizing WiFi or Bluetooth connection. The control program was prepared using the Arduino IDE software environment and can be further advanced with ease. The applied materials and the established measurement procedure can use various air samples, including exhaled breath samples for patients' screening check-ups. We applied the same time of 10 min for response and recovery, acceptable for practical use.

Market Perspectives and Future Fields of Application of Odor Detection Biosensors within the Biological Transformation-A Systematic Analysis

The technological advantages that biosensors have over conventional technical sensors for odor detection and the role they play in the biological transformation have not yet been comprehensively analyzed. However, this is necessary for assessing their suitability for specific fields of application as well as their improvement and development goals. An overview of biological basics of olfactory systems is given and different odor sensor technologies are described and classified in this paper. Specific market potentials of biosensors for odor detection are identified by applying a tailored methodology that enables the derivation and systematic comparison of both the performance profiles of biosensors as well as the requirement profiles for various application fields. Therefore, the fulfillment of defined requirements is evaluated for biosensors by means of 16 selected technical criteria in order to determine a specific performance profile. Further, a selection of application fields, namely healthcare, food industry, agriculture, cosmetics, safety applications, environmental monitoring for odor detection sensors is derived to compare the importance of the criteria for each of the fields, leading to market-specific requirement profiles. The analysis reveals that the requirement criteria considered to be the most important ones across all application fields are high specificity, high selectivity, high repeat accuracy, high resolution, high accuracy, and high sensitivity. All these criteria, except for the repeat accuracy, can potentially be better met by biosensors than by technical sensors, according to the results obtained. Therefore, biosensor technology in general has a high application potential for all the areas of application under consideration. Health and safety applications especially are considered to have high potential for biosensors due to their correspondence between requirement and performance profiles. Special attention is paid to new areas of application that require multi-sensing capability. Application scenarios for multi-sensing biosensors are therefore derived. Moreover, the role of biosensors within the biological transformation is discussed.

Quantitative PCR based detection system for cyanobacterial geosmin/2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB) events in drinking water sources: Current status and challenges

Taste and odor (T&O) are an important issue in drinking water, aquaculture, recreation and a few other associated industries, and cyanobacteria-relevant geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB) are the two most commonly detected T&O compounds worldwide. A rise in the cyanobacterial blooms and associated geosmin/2-MIB episodes due to anthropogenic activities as well as climate change has led to global concerns for drinking water quality. The increasing awareness for the safe drinking, aquaculture or recreational water systems has boost the demand for rapid, robust, on-site early detection and monitoring system for cyanobacterial geosmin/2-MIB events. In past years, research has indicated quantitative PCR (qPCR) as one of the promising tools for detection of geosmin/2-MIB episodes. It offers advantages of detecting the source organism even at very low concentrations, distinction of odor-producing cyanobacterial strains from non-producers and evaluation of odor producing potential of the cyanobacteria at much faster rates compared to conventional techniques.The present review aims at examining the current status of developed qPCR primers and probes in identifying and detecting the cyanobacterial blooms along with geosmin/2-MIB events. Among the more than 100 articles about cyanobacteria associated geosmin/2-MIB in drinking water systems published after 1990, limited reports (approx. 10 each for geosmin and 2-MIB) focused on qPCR detection and its application in the field. Based on the review of literature, a comprehensive open access global cyanobacterial geosmin/2-MIB events database (CyanoGM Explorer) is curated. It acts as a single platform to access updated information related to origin and geographical distribution of geosmin/2-MIB events, cyanobacterial producers, frequency, and techniques associated with the monitoring of the events. Although a total of 132 cyanobacterial strains from 21 genera and 72 cyanobacterial strains from 13 genera have been reported for geosmin and 2-MIB production, respectively, only 58 geosmin and 28 2-MIB synthesis regions have been assembled in the NCBI database. Based on the identity, geosmin sequences were found to be more diverse in the geosmin synthase conserved/primer design region, compared to 2-MIB synthesis region, hindering the design of universal primers/probes. Emerging technologies such as the bioelectronic nose, Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS), and nanopore sequencing are discussed for future applications in early on-site detection of geosmin/2-MIB and producers. In the end, the paper also highlights various challenges in applying qPCR as a universal system of monitoring and development of response system for geosmin/2-MIB episodes.

A biohybrid nose for evaluation of odor masking in the peripheral olfactory system

Olfaction is a synthetic sense in which odor mixtures elicit emergent perceptions at the expense of perceiving the individual components. The most common result of mixing two odors is masking one component by another. However, there is lack of analytical techniques for measuring the sense of smell, which is mediated by cross-odorant interactions. Here, we propose a biohybrid nose for objective and quantitative evaluation of malodor masking efficiency of perfumed products. This biohybrid nose is constructed by integrating mammalian olfactory epithelium with microelectrode array chip to read out the olfactory information as electrical signal from multiple tissue sites. The intrinsic odor response of olfactory epithelium is found to be represented by widespread spatiotemporal oscillatory activity. The masking efficiency of fragrance is quantified by calculating the relative difference between the malodor and the binary mixture (malodor + fragrance) response patterns. Results indicate that masking efficiency of fragrance is concentration-dependent, whereas completely masking may occurs when fragrance is employed at a concentration 2-3 orders of magnitude higher than malodor. This study demonstrates for the first time that capitalizing on the biological sense of smell to create biohybrid system provides an effective technique to resolve more complex biosensing-related issues such as odor interactions in mixtures.

Gas sensors based on mass-sensitive transducers. Part 2: Improving the sensors towards practical application

Within the framework outlined in the first part of the review, the second part addresses attempts to increase receptor material performance through the use of sensor systems and chemometric methods, in conjunction with receptor preparation methods and sensor-specific tasks. Conclusions are then drawn, and development perspectives for gravimetric sensors are discussed.

Advancements in Microfabricated Gas Sensors and Microanalytical Tools for the Sensitive and Selective Detection of Odors

In recent years, advancements in micromachining techniques and nanomaterials have enabled the fabrication of highly sensitive devices for the detection of odorous species. Recent efforts done in the miniaturization of gas sensors have contributed to obtain increasingly compact and portable devices. Besides, the implementation of new nanomaterials in the active layer of these devices is helping to optimize their performance and increase their sensitivity close to humans' olfactory system. Nonetheless, a common concern of general-purpose gas sensors is their lack of selectivity towards multiple analytes. In recent years, advancements in microfabrication techniques and microfluidics have contributed to create new microanalytical tools, which represent a very good alternative to conventional analytical devices and sensor-array systems for the selective detection of odors. Hence, this paper presents a general overview of the recent advancements in microfabricated gas sensors and microanalytical devices for the sensitive and selective detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The working principle of these devices, design requirements, implementation techniques, and the key parameters to optimize their performance are evaluated in this paper. The authors of this work intend to show the potential of combining both solutions in the creation of highly compact, low-cost, and easy-to-deploy platforms for odor monitoring.

Multisensor Systems and Arrays for Medical Applications Employing Naturally-Occurring Compounds and Materials

The significant improvement of quality of life achieved over the last decades has stimulated the development of new approaches in medicine to take into account the personal needs of each patient. Precision medicine, providing healthcare customization, opens new horizons in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of numerous diseases. As a consequence, there is a growing demand for novel analytical devices and methods capable of addressing the challenges of precision medicine. For example, various types of sensors or their arrays are highly suitable for simultaneous monitoring of multiple analytes in complex biological media in order to obtain more information about the health status of a patient or to follow the treatment process. Besides, the development of sustainable sensors based on natural chemicals allows reducing their environmental impact. This review is concerned with the application of such analytical platforms in various areas of medicine: analysis of body fluids, wearable sensors, drug manufacturing and screening. The importance and role of naturally-occurring compounds in the development of electrochemical multisensor systems and arrays are discussed.

Micelle-stabilized Olfactory Receptors for a Bioelectronic Nose Detecting Butter Flavors in Real Fermented Alcoholic Beverages

A bioelectronic nose device based on micelle-stabilized olfactory receptors is developed for the selective discrimination of a butter flavor substance in commercial fermented alcoholic beverages. In this work, we have successfully overexpressed ODR-10, a type of olfactory receptor, from Caenorhabditis elegans using a bacterial expression system at a low cost and high productivity. The highly-purified ODR-10 was stabilized in micelle structures, and it was immobilized on a carbon nanotube field-effect transistor to build a bioelectronic nose for the detection of diacetyl, a butter flavor substance, via the specific interaction between diacetyl and ODR-10. The bioelectronic nose device can sensitively detect diacetyl down to 10 fM, and selectively discriminate it from other substances. In addition, this sensor could directly evaluate diacetyl levels in a variety of real fermented alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, and makgeolli (fermented Korean wine), while the sensor did not respond to soju (Korean style liquor without diacetyl). In this respect, our sensor should be a powerful tool for versatile food industrial applications such as the quality control of alcoholic beverages and foods.

Electrochemical biosensing with odorant binding proteins

The development of sensors that mimic the natural smell sensing mechanism and selectively recognizes the odorants remains highly challenging. Electrochemical based sensing approaches aiming at monitoring molecular recognition events between surface receptors and analytes in solution or in the gas phase, are one possible transduction platforms among others for the construction of an artificial nose. The principle of electrochemical detection lies on the shift of the potential/current during the recognition event, which is proportional to the concentration of the analyte, in our case the odorant. A tremendous amount of efforts has been put into making electrochemical sensors sensitive and selective to the analyte of interest through the use of nanomaterials, development of different detection schemes and application of innovative receptor ligands for selective detection of the analyte. There have been significant advances in electrochemical based odorant sensing by using odorant binding proteins (OBP) as surface receptors, small soluble proteins present in nasal mucus at millimolar concentrations where the hydrophobic binding pocket gives the ability to reversibly bind odorant molecules. As OBPs are robust and easy to produce receptors, they are good candidates for the design of biosensors. In this chapter, we focus on the progress made on the detection of odorant molecules using OBPs as a bioreceptor and electrochemistry as a transduction method.

Application of a Brain-Inspired Spiking Neural Network Architecture to Odor Data Classification

Existing methods in neuromorphic olfaction mainly focus on implementing the data transformation based on the neurobiological architecture of the olfactory pathway. While the transformation is pivotal for the sparse spike-based representation of odor data, classification techniques based on the bio-computations of the higher brain areas, which process the spiking data for identification of odor, remain largely unexplored. This paper argues that brain-inspired spiking neural networks constitute a promising approach for the next generation of machine intelligence for odor data processing. Inspired by principles of brain information processing, here we propose the first spiking neural network method and associated deep machine learning system for classification of odor data. The paper demonstrates that the proposed approach has several advantages when compared to the current state-of-the-art methods. Based on results obtained using a benchmark dataset, the model achieved a high classification accuracy for a large number of odors and has the capacity for incremental learning on new data. The paper explores different spike encoding algorithms and finds that the most suitable for the task is the step-wise encoding function. Further directions in the brain-inspired study of odor machine classification include investigation of more biologically plausible algorithms for mapping, learning, and interpretation of odor data along with the realization of these algorithms on some highly parallel and low power consuming neuromorphic hardware devices for real-world applications.

Reliable chiral recognition with an optoelectronic nose

Chiral discrimination is a key problem in analytical chemistry. It is generally performed using expensive instruments or highly-specific miniaturized sensors. An electronic nose is a bio-inspired instrument capable after training of discriminating a wide variety of analytes. However, generality is achieved at the cost of specificity which makes chiral recognition a challenging task for this kind of device. Recently, a peptide-based optoelectronic nose which can board up to hundreds of different sensing materials has shown promising results, especially in terms of specificity. In line with these results, we describe here its use for chiral recognition. This challenging task requires care, especially in terms of statistical reliability and experimental confounds. For these reasons, we set up an automatic gas sampling system and recorded data over two long sessions, taking care to exclude possible confounds. Two couples of chiral molecules, namely (R) and (S) Limonene and (R) and (S) Carvone, were tested and several statistical analyses indicate the almost perfect discrimination of their two enantiomers. A method to highlight discriminative sensing materials is also proposed and shows that successful discrimination is likely achieved using just a few peptides.

Natural receptor-based competitive immunoelectrochemical assay for ultra-sensitive detection of Siglec 15

Sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin 15 (Siglec 15) is a novel immunomodulatory target and was identified as an immune suppressor in the tumor microenvironment. Accurate assessment of Siglec 15 expression levels is critical for cancer prognosis and treatment. In this work, a natural receptor-based immunoelectrochemical sensor is designed to mimic the interaction between Siglec 15 and DNA_X-activation protein (DAP 12) in the cellular signal pathway. DAP 12 labeled with the electrochemical signal molecule Fc is recognized by Siglec 15 through specific interaction on the electrode surface and used as the signal reporter. Anti-Siglec 15 modified MNPs (MNPs-Ab) were used as the extraction agent for the magnetic extraction of target analytes in complex matrices. Free Anti-Siglec 15 will "squeeze out" the DAP 12-Fc to bind the Siglec 15 on the electrode surface, resulting a sensitive electrochemical signal change according to the Siglec 15 concentration in sample. Natural receptor-based competitive assay ensure the efficient binding between antibody and Siglec 15 and decrease the nonspecific interaction. Therefore, this simple natural receptor-based competitive assay with sensitivity and selectivity has potential for practical clinical application.

Critical Evaluation of Laboratory Potentiometric Electronic Tongues for Pharmaceutical Analysis-An Overview

Electronic tongue systems equipped with cross-sensitive potentiometric sensors have been applied to pharmaceutical analysis, due to the possibility of various applications and developing new formulations. Many studies already proved the complementarity between the electronic tongue and classical analysis such as dissolution tests indicated by Pharmacopeias. However, as a new approach to study pharmaceuticals, electronic tongues lack strict testing protocols and specification limits; therefore, their results can be improperly interpreted and inconsistent with the reference studies. Therefore, all aspects of the development, measurement conditions, data analysis, and interpretation of electronic tongue results were discussed in this overview. The critical evaluation of the effectiveness and reliability of constructed devices may be helpful for a better understanding of electronic tongue systems development and for providing strict testing protocols.

Bioelectronic tongue: Current status and perspectives

In the course of evolution, nature has endowed humans with systems for the recognition of a wide range of tastes with a sensitivity and selectivity which are indispensable for the evaluation of edibility and flavour attributes. Inspiration by a biological sense of taste has become a basis for the design of instruments, operation principles and parameters enabling to mimic the unique properties of their biological precursors. In response to the demand for fast, sensitive and selective techniques of flavouring analysis, devices belonging to the group of bioelectronic tongues (B-ETs) have been designed. They combine achievements of chemometric analysis employed for many years in electronic tongues (ETs), with unique properties of bio-inspired materials, such as natural taste receptors (TRs) regarding receptor/ligand affinity. Investigations of the efficiency of the prototype devices create new application possibilities and suggest successful implementation in real applications. With advances in the field of biotechnology, microfluidics and nanotechnologies, many exciting developments have been made in the design of B-ETs in the last five years or so. The presented characteristics of the recent design solutions, application possibilities, critical evaluation of potentialities and limitations as well as the outline of further development prospects related to B-ETs should contribute to the systematisation and expansion of our knowledge.

Application of electronic nose as a non-invasive technique for odor fingerprinting and detection of bacterial foodborne pathogens: a review

Food safety issues across the global food supply chain have become paramount in promoting public health safety and commercial success of global food industries. As food regulations and consumer expectations continue to advance around the world, notwithstanding the latest technology, detection tools, regulations and consumer education on food safety and quality, there is still an upsurge of foodborne disease outbreaks across the globe. The development of the Electronic nose as a noninvasive technique suitable for detecting volatile compounds have been applied for food safety and quality analysis. Application of E-nose for pathogen detection has been successful and superior to conventional methods. E-nose offers a method that is noninvasive, fast and requires little or no sample preparation, thus making it ideal for use as an online monitoring tool. This manuscript presents an in-depth review of the application of electronic nose (E-nose) for food safety, with emphasis on classification and detection of foodborne pathogens. We summarise recent data and publications on foodborne pathogen detection (2006-2018) and by E-nose together with their methodologies and pattern recognition tools employed. E-nose instrumentation, sensing technologies and pattern recognition models are also summarised and future trends and challenges, as well as research perspectives, are discussed.

A Highly Selective Biosensor Based on Peptide Directly Derived from the HarmOBP7 Aldehyde Binding Site

This paper presents the results of research on determining the optimal length of a peptide chain to effectively bind octanal molecules. Peptides that map the aldehyde binding site in HarmOBP7 were immobilized on piezoelectric transducers. Based on computational studies, four Odorant Binding Protein-derived Peptides (OBPPs) with different sequences were selected. Molecular modelling results of ligand docking with selected peptides were correlated with experimental results. The use of low-molecular synthetic peptides, instead of the whole protein, enabled the construction OBPPs-based biosensors. This work aims at developing a biomimetic piezoelectric OBPPs sensor for selective detection of octanal. Moreover, the research is concerned with the ligand binding affinity depending on different peptides’ chain lengths. The authors believe that the chain length can have a substantial influence on the type and effectiveness of peptide–ligand interaction. A confirmation of in silico investigation results is the correlation with the experimental results, which shows that the highest affinity to octanal is exhibited by the longest peptide (OBPP4 – KLLFDSLTDLKKKMSEC-NH₂). We hypothesized that the binding of long chain aldehydes to the peptide, mimicking the binding site of HarmOBP7, induced a conformational change in the peptide deposited on a selected transducer. The constructed OBPP4-based biosensors were able to selectively bind octanal in the gas phase. It was also shown that the sensors were characterized by high selectivity with respect to octanal, as well as to acetaldehyde and benzaldehyde. The results indicate that the OBPP4 peptide, mimicking the binding domain in the Odorant Binding Protein, can provide new opportunities for the development of biomimicking materials in the field of odor biosensors.

Bioinspired Electronics for Artificial Sensory Systems

Humans have a myriad of sensory receptors in different sense organs that form the five traditionally recognized senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. These receptors detect diverse stimuli originating from the world and turn them into brain-interpretable electrical impulses for sensory cognitive processing, enabling us to communicate and socialize. Developments in biologically inspired electronics have led to the demonstration of a wide range of electronic sensors in all five traditional categories, with the potential to impact a broad spectrum of applications. Here, recent advances in bioinspired electronics that can function as potential artificial sensory systems, including prosthesis and humanoid robots are reviewed. The mechanisms and demonstrations in mimicking biological sensory systems are individually discussed and the remaining future challenges that must be solved for their versatile use are analyzed. Recent progress in bioinspired electronic sensors shows that the five traditional senses are successfully mimicked using novel electronic components and the performance regarding sensitivity, selectivity, and accuracy have improved to levels that outperform human sensory organs. Finally, neural interfacing techniques for connecting artificial sensors to the brain are discussed.

Critical review of electronic nose and tongue instruments prospects in pharmaceutical analysis

Electronic nose (enose, EN) and electronic tongue (etongue, ET) have been designed to simulate human senses of smell and taste in the best possible way. The signals acquired from a sensor array, combined with suitable data analysis system, are the basis for holistic analysis of samples. The efficiency of these instruments, regarding classification, discrimination, detection, monitoring and analytics of samples in different types of matrices, is utilized in many fields of science and industry, offering numerous practical applications. Popularity of both types of devices significantly increased during the last decade, mainly due to improvement of their sensitivity and selectivity. The electronic senses have been employed in pharmaceutical sciences for, among others, formulation development and quality assurance. This paper contains a review of some particular applications of EN and ET based instruments in pharmaceutical industry. In addition, development prospects and a critical summary of the state of art in the field were also surveyed.

Real-Time Classification of Multivariate Olfaction Data Using Spiking Neural Networks

Recent studies in bioinspired artificial olfaction, especially those detailing the application of spike-based neuromorphic methods, have led to promising developments towards overcoming the limitations of traditional approaches, such as complexity in handling multivariate data, computational and power requirements, poor accuracy, and substantial delay for processing and classification of odors. Rank-order-based olfactory systems provide an interesting approach for detection of target gases by encoding multi-variate data generated by artificial olfactory systems into temporal signatures. However, the utilization of traditional pattern-matching methods and unpredictable shuffling of spikes in the rank-order impedes the performance of the system. In this paper, we present an SNN-based solution for the classification of rank-order spiking patterns to provide continuous recognition results in real-time. The SNN classifier is deployed on a neuromorphic hardware system that enables massively parallel and low-power processing on incoming rank-order patterns. Offline learning is used to store the reference rank-order patterns, and an inbuilt nearest neighbor classification logic is applied by the neurons to provide recognition results. The proposed system was evaluated using two different datasets including rank-order spiking data from previously established olfactory systems. The continuous classification that was achieved required a maximum of 12.82% of the total pattern frame to provide 96.5% accuracy in identifying corresponding target gases. Recognition results were obtained at a nominal processing latency of 16ms for each incoming spike. In addition to the clear advantages in terms of real-time operation and robustness to inconsistent rank-orders, the SNN classifier can also detect anomalies in rank-order patterns arising due to drift in sensing arrays.

Odor Recognition with a Spiking Neural Network for Bioelectronic Nose

Electronic noses recognize odors using sensor arrays, and usually face difficulties for odor complicacy, while animals have their own biological sensory capabilities for various types of odors. By implanting electrodes into the olfactory bulb of mammalian animals, odors may be recognized by decoding the recorded neural signals, in order to construct a bioelectronic nose. This paper proposes a spiking neural network (SNN)-based odor recognition method from spike trains recorded by the implanted electrode array. The proposed SNN-based approach exploits rich timing information well in precise time points of spikes. To alleviate the overfitting problem, we design a new SNN learning method with a voltage-based regulation strategy. Experiments are carried out using spike train signals recorded from the main olfactory bulb in rats. Results show that our SNN-based approach achieves the state-of-the-art performance, compared with other methods. With the proposed voltage regulation strategy, it achieves about 15% improvement compared with a classical SNN model.

Integrated olfaction, gustation and toxicity detection by a versatile bioengineered cell-based biomimetic sensor

The biological olfactory and gustation system can discriminate thousands of odor and taste substances with high sensitivity and specificity, specific receptor proteins play an important role in this process. This study used the human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line endogenously expressing the human bitter receptor, T2R16. Meanwhile, an olfactory receptor, ODR-10, was transfected on the plasma membrane of SH-SY5Y cells. T2R16 could specifically respond to bitter compounds with the structure of β-glucopyranosides by activation of G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) causing cell morphologic changes, which could be monitored using a cell-impedance sensor. ODR-10 could specifically respond to diacetyl by changing the extracellular potential of the cells, the resopnse was recorded by a microelectrode array (MEA). The cell index (CI) value and firing rates were extracted from the signals as the biosensor response characteristics. The results with the sensors indicated a dose-dependent response within a defined concentration range. Moreover, this cell-impedance biosensor enabled quick toxicity detection of salicin when the concentration was ≥6 mM. In conclusion, the biomimetic sensors integrated olfaction, gustation and toxicity detection using the same cell, and has showed great potential for use in both basic research and practical applications.

Integration of a field effect transistor-based aptasensor under a hydrophobic membrane for bioelectronic nose applications

A new bioelectronic nose based on a field effect transistor coupled with an aptamer as the sensing element was developed. The gas-to-liquid extraction interface required for appropriate aptamer function was integrated into standard CMOS technology. It was developed with the use of a sacrificial aluminium etching technique combined with surface modifications by silanes for wettability control. As a proof of concept, aptamer Van74 for vanillin was immobilized on the sensitive surface of the ISFET. The developed microsystem can selectively detect vanillin vapor in a concentration range from 2.7 ppt to 0.3 ppm, with a detection limit of 2.7 ppt. The sensor was able to detect vanillin in a gas sample obtained from roasted coffee beans. This outcome provides a foundation for developing a new generation of bioelectronic noses for the detection and discrimination of volatile compounds.

Carbon Nanotube Chemical Sensors

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) promise to advance a number of real-world technologies. Of these applications, they are particularly attractive for uses in chemical sensors for environmental and health monitoring. However, chemical sensors based on CNTs are often lacking in selectivity, and the elucidation of their sensing mechanisms remains challenging. This review is a comprehensive description of the parameters that give rise to the sensing capabilities of CNT-based sensors and the application of CNT-based devices in chemical sensing. This review begins with the discussion of the sensing mechanisms in CNT-based devices, the chemical methods of CNT functionalization, architectures of sensors, performance parameters, and theoretical models used to describe CNT sensors. It then discusses the expansive applications of CNT-based sensors to multiple areas including environmental monitoring, food and agriculture applications, biological sensors, and national security. The discussion of each analyte focuses on the strategies used to impart selectivity and the molecular interactions between the selector and the analyte. Finally, the review concludes with a brief outlook over future developments in the field of chemical sensors and their prospects for commercialization.

Hyaluronate-Functionalized Graphene for Label-Free Electrochemical Cytosensing

Electrochemical sensors for early tumor cell detection are currently an important area of research, as this special region directly improves the efficiency of cancer treatment. Functional graphene is a promising alternative for selective recognition and capture of target cancer cells. In our work, an effective cytosensor of hyaluronate-functionalized graphene (HG) was prepared through chemical reduction of graphene oxide. The as-prepared HG nanostructures were characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy coupled with cyclic voltammograms and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, respectively. The self-assembly of HG with ethylene diamine, followed by sodium hyaluronate, enabled the fabrication of a label-free electrochemical impedance spectroscopy cytosensor with high stability and biocompatibility. Finally, the proposed cytosensor exhibited satisfying electrochemical behavior and cell-capture capacity for human colorectal cancer cells HCT-116, and also displayed a wide linear range, from 5.0 × 10² cells∙mL-1 to 5.0 × 10⁶ cells∙mL-1, and a low detection limit of 100 cells∙mL-1 (S/N = 3) for quantification. This work paves the way for graphene applications in electrochemical cytosensing and other bioassays.

Evaluation of Three Peptide Immobilization Techniques on a QCM Surface Related to Acetaldehyde Responses in the Gas Phase

The quartz-crystal microbalance is a sensitive and universal tool for measuring concentrations of various gases in the air. Biochemical functionalization of the QCM electrode allows a label-free detection of specific molecular interactions with high sensitivity and specificity. In addition, it enables a real-time determination of its kinetic rates and affinity constants. This makes QCM a versatile bioanalytical screening tool for various applications, with surface modifications ranging from the detection of single molecular monolayers to whole cells. Various types of biomaterials, including peptides mapping the binding sites of olfactory receptors, can be deposited as a sensitive element on the surface of the electrodes. One of key ways to ensure the sensitivity and accuracy of the sensor is provided by application of an optimal and repeatable method of immobilization. Therefore, effective sensors operation requires development of an optimal method of deposition. This paper reviews popular techniques (drop-casting, spin-coating, dip-coating) for coating peptides on piezoelectric crystals surface. Peptide (LEKKKKDC-NH₂) derived from an aldehyde binding site in the HarmOBP7 protein was synthesized and used as a sensing material for the biosensor. The degree of deposition of the sensitive layer was monitoring by variations in the sensors frequency. The highest mass threshold for QCM measurements for peptides was approximately 16.43 µg·mm^-2 for spin coating method. Developed sensor exhibited repeatable response to acetaldehyde. Moreover, responses to toluene was observed to evaluate sensors specificity. Calibration curves of the three sensors showed good determination coefficients (R² > 0.99) for drop casting and dip coating and 0.97 for the spin-coating method. Sensors sensitivity vs. acetaldehyde were significantly higher for the dip-coating and drop-casting methods and lower for spin-coating one.

Vapor detection and discrimination with a panel of odorant receptors

Olfactory systems have evolved the extraordinary capability to detect and discriminate volatile odorous molecules (odorants) in the environment. Fundamentally, this process relies on the interaction of odorants and their cognate olfactory receptors (ORs) encoded in the genome. Here, we conducted a cell-based screen using over 800 mouse ORs against seven odorants, resulting in the identification of a set of high-affinity and/or broadly-tuned ORs. We then test whether heterologously expressed ORs respond to odors presented in vapor phase by individually expressing 31 ORs to measure cAMP responses against vapor phase odor stimulation. Comparison of response profiles demonstrates this platform is capable of discriminating between structural analogs. Lastly, co-expression of carboxyl esterase Ces1d expressed in olfactory mucosa resulted in marked changes in activation of specific odorant-OR combinations. Altogether, these results establish a cell-based volatile odor detection and discrimination platform and form the basis for an OR-based volatile odor sensor.

Biomimetic “noses” have been proposed to replace trained animals for chemical detection. Here the authors select 31 mouse olfactory receptors (ORs), based on a large cell-based screen of >800 ORs against seven chemicals, to build an OR-based sensor able to discriminate structurally similar compounds.