A general approach to differential sensing using synthetic molecular receptors.

Differential sensing is continuing to develop as an alternative to traditional, selective chemosensing techniques. This technique takes a cue from how the human senses of taste and smell operate in order to obtain qualitative and even quantitative data on single analytes and mixtures. Whereas classical chemosensing techniques inspired by the 'lock-and-key' approach depend on the development of a selective receptor for a target analyte, pattern-based sensing depends on the development of an array of cross-reactive receptors, which produce a collection of responses upon the array's interaction with a target analyte. This review focuses on an approach to differential sensing that diversifies synthetic receptors to be used in an array via appending combinatorial peptidic arms, metal ions, and indicators to a core binding unit.