Duke researcher wants to replace drug-sniffing dogs with robotic noses

When explosives or illegal drugs are hidden, a lot of time and money is spent training dogs to sniff them out. It can be a dangerous -- and costly -- job. That's where Dr. Matsunami and his work on a biomechanical nose comes in.

In Hiroaki Matsunami's Duke research lab, bottles are full of chemical aromas like methyl benzoate.

"This smell is associated with cocaine," said Dr. Matsunami, a professor of molecular genetics and microbiology.

Another chemical, cyclohexonol, is widely used as an organic solvent.

"Sometimes this is used in the context of explosives," said Matsunami.

Dr. Matsunami successfully created a panel of cells, grown from the genes of mice, that produce odor receptors in the wells of a lab tray.

When put through a robotic system and exposed to certain chemical odors, a computer reveals which receptors are activated. Smells stimulate sensory neurons in the nose and produce proteins called "odor receptors."

"[I want to] do the same job without training live animals with hundreds of receptors that mimic the way the nose works," said Matsunami.

Dr. Matsunami says the concept is still in its early stages, but his results are promising. "This is proof of principle that we can do it," he said.