Multifunctional Electronic Tongue Based on Taste Organoids for Practical Application

With the ability to recognize the natural taste of samples, cell-based taste biosensors show promising usages in food industry and drug screening. However, the vulnerability of the cells hindered their practica1l applications. Here, inspired by the human immune system, we proposed a multifunctional biomimetic electronic tongue with both taste recognition and antimicrobial functions. First, the E-tongue composed of a taste-sensing chip system and microfluidic devices which enables antimicrobial substances delivery, culture medium supply, and sample injection was designed and fabricated. The result showed that the E-tongue was able to sense lemon juice. Most importantly, the E-tongue protected the taste organoid from microbial invasion, extending the lifespan of the device. The method developed here provides a promising solution for the practical application of cell-based E-tongues.