i-Lab, and Key Laboratory of Multifunctional Nanomaterials and Smart Systems, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics (SINANO), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), 398 Ruoshui Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, PR China.
Xi'an Jiaotong Liverpool University, Department of Environmental Science, 111 Renai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, PR China.
Biosens Bioelectron. 2019 Oct 1;142:111519. doi: 10.1016/j.bios.2019.111519. Epub 2019 Jul 16.
Rhinophore, a bio-chemical sensory organ with soft and stretchable/retractable features in many marine molluscs species, exhibits tunable chemosensory abilities in terms of far/near-field chemical detection and molecules' source orientation. However, existing artificial bio-chemical sensors cannot provide tunable modality sensing. Inspired by the anatomical units (folded sensory epithelium) and the functions of a rhinophore, this work introduces a stretchable electrochemical sensor that offers a programmable electro-catalytic performance towards glucose based on the fold/unfold regulation of the gold nanomembrane on an elastic fiber. Geometrical design rationale and covalent bonding strategy are used to realize the robust mechanical and electrical stability of this stretchable bionic sensor. Electrochemical tests demonstrated that the sensitivities of the as-prepared bionic sensor exhibit a linear relationship with its strain states from 0% to 150%. Bio-inspired sensory functions are tested by regulating the strain of the bionic sensor. The sensor achieves a sensitivity of 195.4 μA mM in a low glucose concentration range of 8-206 μM at 150% strain for potentially far-field chemical detection, and a sensitivity of 14.2 μA mM in a high concentration range of 10-100 mM at 0% strain for near-field chemical detection. Moreover, the bionic sensor performs the detection while extending its length can largely enhance the response signal, which is used to distinguish the molecules' source direction. This proposed bionic sensor can be useful in wearable devices, robotics and bionics applications which require diverse modality sensing and smart chemical tracking system.
嗅器是一种在许多海洋软体动物中具有柔软和伸缩特性的生化感觉器官，在远场/近场化学检测和分子源定位方面表现出可调谐的化学感觉能力。然而，现有的人工生化传感器无法提供可调谐模式感测。受解剖单元（折叠感觉上皮）和嗅器功能的启发，本工作引入了一种可拉伸的电化学传感器，该传感器基于金纳米膜在弹性纤维上的折叠/展开调节，提供了针对葡萄糖的可编程电催化性能。使用几何设计原理和共价键合策略来实现这种可拉伸仿生传感器的稳健机械和电气稳定性。电化学测试表明，所制备的仿生传感器的灵敏度与其应变状态之间存在线性关系，应变范围从 0%到 150%。通过调节仿生传感器的应变来测试生物启发的感觉功能。该传感器在 150%应变下，在低葡萄糖浓度范围 8-206µM 内的灵敏度为 195.4µA mM，在高浓度范围 10-100mM 内的灵敏度为 0%应变时为 14.2µA mM，可用于潜在的远场化学检测，在近场化学检测中，在 0%应变时，灵敏度为 14.2µA mM。此外，仿生传感器在伸展长度的同时进行检测可以大大增强响应信号，可用于区分分子的源方向。这种提出的仿生传感器可用于需要多种模式感测和智能化学跟踪系统的可穿戴设备、机器人和仿生学应用。
