Biological olfactory systems are highly sensitive and selective, often outperforming engineered chemical sensors in highly complex and dynamic environments. As a result, there is much interest in using biological systems to build sensors. However, approaches to read-out information from biological systems, especially neural signals, tend to be suboptimal due to the number of electrodes that can be used and where these can be placed. Here we aim to overcome this suboptimality in neural information read-out by using a nano-enabled neuromodulation strategy to augment insect olfaction-based chemical sensors. By harnessing the photothermal properties of nanostructures and releasing a select neuromodulator on demand, we show that the odour-evoked response from the interrogated regions of the insect olfactory system can not only be enhanced but can also improve odour identification.

生物嗅觉系统具有高度敏感性和选择性，在高度复杂和动态的环境中通常优于工程化学传感器。因此，人们对使用生物系统构建传感器很感兴趣。然而，由于可以使用的电极数量以及可以放置的位置，从生物系统（尤其是神经信号）读取信息的方法往往不是最理想的。在这里，我们的目标是通过使用纳米神经调节策略来增强基于昆虫嗅觉的化学传感器，从而克服神经信息读出的次优性。通过利用纳米结构的光热特性并根据需要释放特定的神经调节剂，我们发现昆虫嗅觉系统受询问区域的气味诱发反应不仅可以增强，还可以改善气味识别。