Pheromone sensing using SWCNT based bio-optical sensor

Insects use volatile organic molecules to communicate messages with remarkable sensitivity and specificity. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have become valuable candidates for a wide range of applications including sensing, imaging, and drug delivery. Their ability to emit in the near-infrared, excellent photostability and highly sensitive to the local environment make SWCNTs a promising bio-optical sensor in agriculture. Here, we introduce a bio-optical sensor based on Protein-SWCNT technology that can be engineered to serve as self-powered sensor able to identify insect pheromones. The first model will be based on the well-known pheromone communication example of the Bombyx mori pheromone binding protein (PBP) and the unsaturated alcohol named Bombykol. The sensor will be made of polyvinyl-alcohol (PVA) transparent hydrogel discs with SWCNTs reference and SWCNTs wrapped with recombinant PBP. The disks will be excited with laser and the emission will be analyzed by InGas detector (nIR spectrum). We hypothesize that the SWCNTs wrapped with PBP will change their fluorescence emission after encounter with the pheromone Bombykol. The combination between the SWCNT fluorescence detection and the variety of insect sex pheromones can lead to a sensor being able to detect a specific insect in a specific location in the field. This sensor can be useful to the agriculture industry by eliminating insects in a more sustainable and targeted way.