A Novel Biomimetic Opto-electronic Nose Combining Cross-Reactive Peptides with Selective Phage Display Peptides for Enhanced Performance

The extraordinary capabilities of the biological sense of smell remain unmatched by electronic noses. Here, we present a revolutionary concept for next-generation electronic noses that integrates both specific and cross-reactive recognition principles within a single system. A novel biomimetic opto-electronic nose with enhanced performance based on Surface Plasmon Resonance Imaging (SPRI) was developed, combining cross-reactive peptides with selective Phage Display-derived peptides. Using Phage Display, five highly selective peptides were identified for detecting BTEX compounds (Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylene). Experimental results demonstrate their high sensitivity and selectivity toward aromatic volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as well as the critical role of humidity in preserving peptide binding activity in the gas phase. The resulting biomimetic opto-electronic nose exhibits superior performance in the detection and discrimination of pure VOCs from various chemical families, as well as complex mixtures, including environmentally relevant pollutants. This proof-of-concept study establishes a foundation for the next generation of electronic noses, bridging biomimicry and optical sensing to achieve enhanced chemical recognition capabilities. • A biomimetic opto-electronic nose combining specific and cross-reactive sensing. • Selective Phage Display peptides identified with high affinity for BTEX compounds. • Enhanced sensitivity and selectivity with LODs < 50 ppm for toluene and ∼20 ppm for Xylene. • SPRI-based eNose with unprecedented performance discriminates VOCs and their isomers. • Detection of polluting agents in complex mixtures for environmental monitoring.