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Updated: May 17, 2026
05:54
Controlled Odor Mimic Permeation Systems for Olfactory Training and Field Testing
Published on: January 28, 2021
Operational mechanisms and application advances in artificial olfactory systems
Chongyang Wang1, Zhikai Wang1, Shengqi Gan1
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315040, Zhejiang, China.
Biomedical Engineering Online
|May 15, 2026
Summary
Artificial olfactory systems mimic biological olfaction for detecting volatile compounds. Hybrid systems combining biological selectivity with synthetic stability offer promising next-generation electronic nose applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomimetic systems
- Chemosensory technology
- Sensor development
Background:
- Biological olfaction relies on specific molecular binding to receptors and neural encoding.
- Artificial olfactory systems aim to replicate this for volatile compound detection.
- Existing systems include bioreceptor-based and nonbioreceptor-based approaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and synthesize literature on artificial olfactory systems.
- To evaluate sensing mechanisms, device architectures, and applications.
- To identify translational challenges and future directions.
Main Methods:
- Literature synthesis from Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus.
- Critical evaluation of bioreceptor (ORs, OBPs, peptides) and nonbioreceptor (colorimetric, MOS) sensors.
- Analysis of signal processing and machine learning techniques.
Main Results:
- Bioreceptor platforms offer high sensitivity for trace detection.
- Nonbioreceptor sensors provide enhanced stability for continuous monitoring.
- Hybrid architectures integrating biological and synthetic elements show promise.
Conclusions:
- Artificial olfactory systems have diverse applications in medical diagnosis, food safety, environmental surveillance, and public safety.
- Challenges include stability of biological elements and sensor drift.
- Hybrid systems represent a key future direction for advanced electronic noses.
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