March 5, 2024

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Research team designs small-scale 'chemical nose'

(A) Schematic of a square array of 9x9 elastic posts in a fluid-filled rectangular chamber with dimensions 4x4x1mm3 containing five enzyme-coated posts: one with CAT (catalase) in the middle (blue), two with AP (acid phosphatase) along the central line in the x direction (pink), and two with urease at corners (orange). By adding appropriate chemicals (hydrogen peroxide, p- nitrophenylephosphate and urea) the chemical reaction on the surface of the coated posts drives upward or inward flow that deform the nearby posts. (B) Side-view of the flow field generated by an enzyme-coated post that generates inward (CAT or AP) and outward (urease) flow due to the solutal buoyancy effect. (C and D) Top view of the configuration of a square array of 9x9 elastic posts after adding hydrogen peroxide, p- nitrophenylephosphate, and urea, for periodic (C) and wall (D) boundary conditions. Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2319777121
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(A) Schematic of a square array of 9x9 elastic posts in a fluid-filled rectangular chamber with dimensions 4x4x1mm3 containing five enzyme-coated posts: one with CAT (catalase) in the middle (blue), two with AP (acid phosphatase) along the central line in the x direction (pink), and two with urease at corners (orange). By adding appropriate chemicals (hydrogen peroxide, p- nitrophenylephosphate and urea) the chemical reaction on the surface of the coated posts drives upward or inward flow that deform the nearby posts. (B) Side-view of the flow field generated by an enzyme-coated post that generates inward (CAT or AP) and outward (urease) flow due to the solutal buoyancy effect. (C and D) Top view of the configuration of a square array of 9x9 elastic posts after adding hydrogen peroxide, p- nitrophenylephosphate, and urea, for periodic (C) and wall (D) boundary conditions. Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2319777121

A living organism's nose is essentially a biological molecule detector that sends neurological signals to the brain, which then decodes a particular scent. Human noses, with six million olfactory receptors, can distinguish more than one trillion scents, while some canine noses possess up to 300 million receptors, which provide enhanced sensitivity in parts per trillion.

"Electronic noses" are electronic devices that can "sniff" and identify vaporized odors and flavors. Typically connected to a significant amount of laboratory equipment, these synthetic noses are not readily portable, motivating researchers to devise new, transportable sensors that can identify a broad range of chemicals.

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering have furthered that potential by designing a small-scale system that forms three-dimensional patterns, which serve as chemical "fingerprints" that allow chemicals in solutions to be identified. Principal investigator is Anna C. Balazs, Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering, with lead author and postdoc Moslem Moradi, and postdoc Oleg E. Shklyaev. The work appears in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Credit: University of Pittsburgh

"Catalysts are highly selective; only certain can trigger a particular catalytic reaction. Due to this selectivity, catalysts in a solution can reveal the identities of the reactants. If the right reactants are added to the fluid, then the resulting reaction generates the spontaneous flow of the fluid; the flow, in turn, can bend and shape flexible objects immersed in the solution," Balazs explained.

"If flexible posts are tethered to the base of a fluid-filled chamber and coated with specific enzymes, then the added reactants will force the posts to bend in different directions and form distinct visual patterns.

"What is amazing is that each reactant, or combination of reactants, produces a separate pattern. In effect, the chemicals leave a distinctive 'fingerprint,' which allows us to identify the chemical composition of the solution."

In the simulation, Moradi constructed a chamber four millimeters square and one millimeter in height, with 81 flexible posts. Only a few posts at particular locations were coated with one of three types of enzymes.

"If we examine specific reactions, we can discern the shapes they contribute to the overall pattern. Consequently, we can control the patterns and tune their appearance." Moradi said. "Moreover, if the reactants are added one at time, we can form a chemical kaleidoscope as one pattern smoothly morphs into another when the previous reactants are consumed by the reaction and a new reactant is added to the solution."

Credit: University of Pittsburgh

Shklyaev added that these results are notable because the posts are similar to electronic nodes. "The posts are like on-off switches and move in a specific direction regulated by the flow," he said, "and the patterns reveal the . The chemistry happens on the nanoscale, and we observe at the millimeter-scale visible patterns formed by the post, which can reflect light and thus could be detected by the naked eye."

Concurrently, the findings highlight a means of directing the flow in the chamber without building new walls for each application, potentially broadening the utility of a given fluidic device.

More information: Moslem Moradi et al, Integrating chemistry, fluid flow, and mechanics to drive spontaneous formation of three-dimensional (3D) patterns in anchored microstructures, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2319777121

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