Creating a Bionic Nose

Who would have thought that an odor-perceptive nose-like hybrid, that consists of a robust cartilage-like structure and a biocompatible biosensing platform was possible? Surprisingly, hybrid nasal organs can be created.

Biofabrication and additive manufacturing have made bionic innovations of this nature possible. Two key challenges in creating a bionic nose are the need for:
1. a robust reconstruction of the nasal cartilage with high precision; and
2. replication of the nose functionality – that is, odour perception (Yodat et. al, 2020).

With 3D bio-printed cartilage tissue and an electrochemical biosensing system to create olfactory sensations, early research looks set to become a new example of a functional bionic interface changing lives.