Olfactory-inspired nanofluidic sensor: molecular recognition and transport in confined space

The olfactory system of biological intelligence, which enables accurate discernment of vital cues within complex odor mixtures, provides inspiration for the development of rapid and sensitive sensors. Olfactory perception is mediated by ionic fluxes that convert chemical information into electrical signals. Olfactory-inspired sensors utilize molecular recognition and transport in confined spaces to achieve macroscopic readouts of chemical information, holding significant potential to balance sensitivity, selectivity, and stability - long-standing challenges in traditional sensing. These sensors are expected to enable miniaturization, low power consumption, and reliable detection in real scenarios characterized by complex compositions, strong background interference, and extremely low target concentrations. This review provides development strategies for olfactory-inspired nanofluidic sensors and summarizes their bioinspired mechanisms, fabrication methods, and sensing applications. Finally, it highlights key challenges and potential future directions essential for advancing olfactory-inspired sensing technologies.