FET-based nanobiosensors for the detection of smell and taste

Various nanobiosensors composed of biomaterials and nanomaterials have been developed, due to their demonstrated advantage of showing high performance. Among various biomaterials for biological recognition elements of the nanobiosensor, sensory receptors, such as olfactory and taste receptors, are promising biomaterials for developing nanobiosensors, because of their high selectivity to target molecules. Field-effect transistors (FET) with nanomaterials such as carbon nanotube (CNT), graphene, and conducting polymer nanotube (CPNT), can be combined with the biomaterials to enhance the sensitivity of nanobiosensors. Recently, many efforts have been made to develop nanobiosensors using biomaterials, such as olfactory receptors and taste receptors for detecting various smells and tastes. This review focuses on the biomaterials and nanomaterials used in nanobiosensor systems and studies of various types of nanobiosensor platforms that utilize olfactory receptors and taste receptors which could be applied to a wide range of industrial fields, including the food and beverage industry, environmental monitoring, the biomedical field, and anti-terrorism.