Vapor Sensors Using Olfactory Proteins Coupled to Carbon
Nanotubes
Mitchell Lerner, Brett Goldsmith, Joe Mitala, Bohdana Discher, Paul Rhodes, A.T. Charlie Johnson
University of PennsylvaniaAPS March 2010
Biological Olfaction
• Number of discernable smells is much greater than the number of types of olfactory receptor cells
(350 sensor types detect >10,000 odors for humans)
http://nobelprize.org/
Mammal Types of Olfactory Receptor
Cells
Human 350
Mouse 1000
Rat 1500
Dog 1100
Experimental Objective
• Integrate biology with nanotechnology
http://nobelprize.org/
Nanotube Transistors
• Use standard techniques to construct state of the art CNT transistors
Nanotube Functionalization
Bare NanotubeDiazonium saltEDCNHSNTAOlfactory receptor protein in micelles
Experimental Design:Attachment
• Confirmation of protein attachment to nanotubes
1mm
Reproducible Sensing
• curves from 3 experiments showing a reproducible response to eugenol for mOR174-9
• mOR 174-9 responds to eugenol in vivo
blue arrow – inert gas flush
green arrow – eugenol exposure
Sensor Timing
• experiment showing a response to cyclohexanone for mOR 256-17
• mOR 256-17 responds to cyclohexanone in vivo• Initial response k-1 3s, secondary response is
30s• Recovery k-1 is 30s.
Concentration Dependence
• experiments showin responses for mOR 203-1• mOR 203-1 responds to 2-heptanone in vivo• fMRI studies show identical responses to 2-
heptanone and n-amyl acetate in mice
mOR 174-9
mOR 203-1
mOR 256-17
Each of the three proteins gives a different set of reproducible, concentration dependent responses
Summary• We reproduced many properties of
biological sensing in an electronic device.
• Proteins are maintaining some features found in vivo
• First use of G-protein coupled receptors in electronic sensors
• Potential for application in hazardous material detection and pharmaceutical testing
Acknowledgements
Evolved Machines Paul Rhodes, Sam Khamis, Ryan Jones
Johnson Group - Penn
A.T.Charlie Johnson, Brett Goldsmith, Mitchell Lerner, Ye Lu
Discher Group - Penn
Bohdana Discher, Joe Mitala
Brand Group - Monell
Joe Brand, Jesusa Josue, Alan Gelperin
Sliger Group - UIUC Stephen Sliger, Tim Baybert
Luetje Group - UMiami
Chuck Luetje
DARPA RealNose Project
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