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The sense of smell is achieved through the activities of the olfactory system. It starts when an airborne odorant enters the nasal cavity and reaches olfactory epithelium (OE). The OE is protected by a thin layer of mucus, which also serves the purpose of dissolving more complex compounds into simpler chemical odorants. The size of the OE and the density of sensory neurons varies among species; in humans, the OE is only about 9-10 cm2.
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Humans detect odors with the help of specialized cells located in the upper part of the nasal cavity, called olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). ORNs possess hair-like structures called cilia, which are receptive to sensations from the inhaled air. When an odorant molecule binds to a specific receptor on the cell of the cilia, it leads to a series of events that ultimately cause the ORN to send electrical signals to the olfactory bulb in the brain through the olfactory nerves.
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Tactile senses encompass touch, temperature, and pain, each mediated by specific receptors. Touch receptors detect mechanical energy or pressure against the skin. Sensory fibers from these receptors enter the spinal cord and relay information to the brain stem. Here, most fibers cross over to the opposite side of the brain. The touch information then moves to the thalamus, which projects a map of the body's surface onto the somatosensory areas of the parietal lobes in the cerebral cortex.
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Fruit Volatile Analysis Using an Electronic Nose
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The Optoelectronic Nose.

Zheng Li1, Kenneth S Suslick2

  • 1Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, 3688 Nanhai Road, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, P.R. China.

Accounts of Chemical Research
|December 17, 2020
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Colorimetric sensor arrays mimic animal olfaction, using pattern recognition to identify molecules with high sensitivity. These disposable arrays, integrated into pocket-sized devices, offer diverse applications from environmental monitoring to disease detection.

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Area of Science:

  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Chemical Sensing
  • Optoelectronics

Background:

  • Distinguishing between molecules is crucial for chemical analysis.
  • Animal olfaction, a sophisticated chemical sensing system, relies on pattern recognition rather than specific receptors.
  • Existing chemical sensing methods often lack the sensitivity or discrimination needed for complex mixtures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a novel chemical sensing approach analogous to animal olfaction.
  • To create high-dimensional data through colorimetric changes for molecular analysis.
  • To demonstrate the sensitivity, discrimination, and broad applicability of these sensor arrays.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized colorimetric sensor arrays with chemically responsive colorants (dyes, nanoparticles) that change color upon analyte exposure.
  • Employed inkjet or dip-pen printing for array fabrication on porous membranes or paper.
  • Developed portable optoelectronic nose instruments for real-time analysis using chemometric pattern recognition (e.g., hierarchical cluster analysis, support vector machines).

Main Results:

  • Achieved high sensitivity (ppb levels) and impressive discrimination among similar analytes and complex mixtures.
  • Demonstrated versatile sensing capabilities for both gas and liquid phases across various analyte types.
  • Successfully applied colorimetric arrays in diverse fields including personal dosimetry, explosives detection, environmental monitoring, food quality control, and disease biomarker identification.

Conclusions:

  • Colorimetric sensor arrays offer a powerful, pattern-recognition-based approach to chemical sensing, inspired by biological olfaction.
  • The disposable, easily produced arrays, coupled with portable optoelectronic readers, provide a practical solution for real-world chemical analysis.
  • This technology shows significant promise for a wide range of applications requiring sensitive and selective molecular detection.