High-Speed Volatile Odorant Molecule Dissolving Strategy for Cell-Based Odorant Sensors

Detecting volatile odorant molecules in air is currently a hot topic in biosensors. We propose an ultrafine bubble (UFB)-based dissolution strategy that allows rapid solubilization of odorant molecules with poor water solubility in distilled water (DW). The system dissolved 1-octen-3-ol, a poorly water-soluble molecule responsible for moldy odors, to a concentration of 44.6 μM in DW in one minute with high concentrations of ultrasonic spray-generated UFBs. The responses of Sf21 cells expressing insect odorant receptors to the dissolved 1-octen-3-ol samples were detected through fluorescence microscopy measurements. This method is appropriate for solubilizing airborne odorant molecules that dissolve poorly in water and comprises a practical strategy for cell-based odorant sensor systems.