Introducing genetic sequences of olfactory receptors from across the animal kingdom will provide the opportunity to detect from a larger library of aerosolized materials. Furthermore, combing recombinatorial approaches will allow the ability to create genetic sequences to include the expression of unorthodox olfactory receptors to detect compounds of interest that are currently ‘odorless’. Recently, mammalian odorant receptors were expressed with recombinant adenovirus of a particular receptor gene to increase the number of sensory neurons. Leveraging this technology, we will create a platform in synthetic biology and genetic engineering to produce new cell lines or add individual receptors to current cells to improve their chemical specificity.
USMA West Point's "eNOSE" was designed with the purpose of detecting improvised explosive devices (IED's), a threat to the present-day Warfighter in Iraq and Afghanistan. Alternatives are bomb sniffing dogs and ground penetrating radar, but many small inconsistencies cause these options to be somewhat unreliable. "eNOSE" is a biosensor that uses the same biological machinery as a dog, but without the same inconsistencies. The device uses olfaction, or the sense of smell, to detect odorants in a highly specific and sensitive manner. "eNOSE" is here to change the battlefield, security, and medicine - it is here to "detect the undetectable."
