Advances in Nanopore Sensors for Olfactory Sensing

Conventional olfactory sensors face limitations in trace detection within complex gas environments, exhibiting poor interference resistance and slow response times. Nanopore sensors offer a new paradigm for enhancing olfactory sensing performance due to their unique single-molecule sensing mechanism, which mimics the ion-channel signaling of biological olfactory systems. This review summarizes the latest advancements in nanopore olfactory sensors, emphasizing their distinct advantages, particularly single-molecule detection sensitivity and high resolution. It systematically outlines the main types and detection principles of nanopore sensors, providing detailed insights into the design strategies and their demonstrated effectiveness across healthcare, food safety, and agriculture. However, persistent challenges in nanopore olfactory sensing, specifically poor device longevity and complex high-throughput signal interpretation, necessitate the integration of advanced analytical algorithms and novel material architectures for broader practical applications.