Development of micro taste and odor fusion sensor

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Quantitative, objective estimate of taste, smell, quality and safety of foods are strongly requested recently. This research has been made for two years on this background ; it aims at development of a taste/smell recognition microchip. The obtained results can be summarized as follows :1) Development of miniaturized taste sensorThe part of electrode of taste sensor was miniaturized using the semiconductor technology. The state of interaction between the lipid/polymer membrane and taste substances was observed using atomic force microscope. Some experimental apparatus, which are equipped in the laboratory, were used for miniaturization. The so-obtained miniaturized taste sensor showed almost the same response characteristics as the conventional large-scale taste sensor.2) Development of miniaturized smell sensorIn a similar way, a smell sensor was miniaturized. The Au-deposit glass plate was used as the part to interact with odor chemical substances.3) Measuring system using flow injectionThe measuring system of flow-injection type was constructed so that the miniaturized taste or smell sensor could be incorporated.4) Measurement of foodsThe taste and smell of foods such as Japanese sake were measured using the above miniaturized taste and smell sensing systems, respectively.5) DatabaseHuman sensory evaluations were performed for Japanese sake, and the results were compared with those using the sensing systems. The obtained results will be applied to other foodstuffs, too.6) Physiological experiments of olfactory systemResponses of rats to odorants were studied. The results were applicable to further understanding of human olfactory sense in comparison with sensor outputs.