Integrated Flavor Sensor Using Microbead Array

Authors: Ziba Omidi, Min-Ki Kim

Abstract:

This research presents the design, fabrication and application of a flavor sensor for an integrated electronic tongue and electronic nose that can allow rapid characterization of multi-component mixtures in a solution. The odor gas and liquid are separated using hydrophobic porous membrane in micro fluidic channel. The sensor uses an array composed of microbeads in micromachined cavities localized on silicon wafer. Sensing occurs via colorimetric and fluorescence changes to receptors and indicator molecules that are attached to termination sites on the polymeric microbeads. As a result, the sensor array system enables simultaneous and near-real-time analyses using small samples and reagent volumes with the capacity to incorporate significant redundancies. One of the key parts of the system is a passive pump driven only by capillary force. The hydrophilic surface of the fluidic structure draws the sample into the sensor array without any moving mechanical parts. Since there is no moving mechanical component in the structure, the size of the fluidic structure can be compact and the fabrication becomes simple when compared to the device including active microfluidic components. These factors should make the proposed system inexpensive to mass-produce, portable and compatible with biomedical applications.

Keywords: Optical Sensor, Semiconductor manufacturing, Smell sensor, Taste sensor.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1093934

References:

[1] G. Sehra, et al., Sensors and Actuators B, vol. 103, 233–239, 2004"Miniature taste sensing system based on dual SH-SAW sensor device: an electronic tongue”,
[2] Corrado Di Natale, et al., AnalyticaChimicaActa, "Application of metalloporphyrins-based gas and liquid sensorArrays to the analysis of red wine”, vol. 513, 49–56, 2004
[3] Young-SooSohn, et al., "A microbead array chemical sensor using capillary-based sample introduction: toward the development of an "electronic tongue”, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, vol. 21, 303–312, 2005
[4] Maik Kraus, Ulrike Krewer, "Experimental analysis of the separation efficiency of an orientation independent gas/liquid membrane separator”, Separation and Purification Technology, vol. 81. 347–356, 2011
[5] Ilwhan Oh, et al., "Electrochemical Multiphase Microreactor as Fast, Selective, and Portable Chemical Sensor of Trace Toxic Vapors”, IEEE Sensors Journal, vol. 8, no. 5, 2008
[6] Buratti S., Sinelli N., Benedetti S., Ballabio D. and Giovanelli G. Nantes, "Monitoring of Alcoholic Fermentation Using NIR and MIR Spectroscopy combined with Electronic Nose and Electronic Tongue”, 18-20, 2011
[7] Xing Chen, Mingfu Cao, Yi Li, Weijun Hu, Ping Wang, Kejing Ying and Hongming Pan, "A study of an electronic nose for detection of lung cancer based on a virtual SAW gas sensors array and imaging recognition method”, Meas. Sci. Technol. vol. 16, 1535–1546, 2005
[8] "Urine metabolite profiling offers potential early dianosis of oral Cancer”, JiaMetabolomics vol. 8, 220–231, 2012
[9] "Use of an electronic nose system for diagnoses of urinary tract infections”. BiosensBioelectron., vol. 17 893-899, 2002
[10] "ACS News Service Weekly PressPac”, an advance toward an "electronic nose” urine test for TB, 2011