Single-carbon-atomic-resolution detection of odorant molecules using a human olfactory receptor-based bioelectronic nose

A study was conducted to demonstrate the detection of odorant molecules, using a human olfactory receptor-based bioelectronic nose. It was found that the bioelectronic nose comprised of lipid membranes that contain human olfactory receptor 2AG1, coated on swCNT-FET. The study also demonstrated the detection of specific odorant molecules, with single-carbon-atomic resolution and femtomolar sensitivity in real-time. The study conducted the first demonstration of monitoring the operation of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) in a cell membrane with swCNT-FET sensors. A number of steps were followed, to prepare the bioelectronic nose for conducting investigations. One of these steps involved patterning of an octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) self-assembled monolayer (SAM), with nonpolar terminal groups on a SiO₂ surface, using photolithography.