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Updated: May 22, 2026

Sampling and Analysis of Animal Scent Signals
Published on: February 13, 2021
Dynamic mixtures: challenges and opportunities for the amplification and sensing of scents
1Firmenich SA, Division Recherche et Développement, Route des Jeunes 1, B. P. 239, 1211 Genève 8, Switzerland. andreas.herrmann@firmenich.com
Abstract:
Nature generates compounds as complicated mixtures, but surprisingly little is known about the synergies or inhibitory effects of compound mixtures, which is likely to become an important research area in life sciences in the near future. Some recently developed concepts in dynamic combinatorial/covalent chemistry (DCC) have been applied to amplify (increase the intensity and long-lastingness of perception) and sense (selectively detect and discriminate) individual bioactive volatile molecules in compound mixtures. This Concept article focuses on the potential of DCC to impact and modulate the biological and chemical properties of mixtures of bioactive volatile compounds to gain a more fundamental understanding of the properties of compound mixtures in molecular recognition.
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