Prototype Potentiometric Biosensor Using Intact Chemoreceptor Structures

Abstract

Antennule structures from blue crabs are directly coupled with potentiometric electrodes to devise a novel type of biosensor. The prototype sensors are shown to yield sensitive and selective responses to amino acids in solution based upon nerve signals from the olfactory cheraoreceptors at the sensory tip of the antennule. Both single-unit and multi-unit responses can be observed and correlated with analytical variables.