Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences

The mycelium suggested use as a sensor «electronic nose» scientists of the Institute of Radioengineering and electronics. V. A. Kotelnikov, Institute of biochemistry and physiology of plants and microorganisms Russian Academy of Sciences. According to studies, the mycelium of the fungus Lentinula edodes (also known as «shiitake» and is widely used in Chinese cooking) responds to the smallest impurities toxic fumes of ammonia and formaldehyde in the air. Article about it was published in the journal «Sensors and Actuators B-Chemical».

At the core of modern analysers “electronic noses” is the ability to change the physical properties of different materials in interaction with chemical substances in the air. Scientists ireh, under the leadership of doctor of physical and mathematical Sciences, Professor, RAS Irene Kuznetsova and doctor of physico-mathematical Sciences, Professor Boris Zaitsev has proposed and substantiated a new approach that has no analogues in the world practice: to be used as materials for detectors of air pollution biological objects — mycelium (mycelium). Conducted joint research with mycologists under the guidance of doctor of biological Sciences Olga Tcivilev confirmed this fundamental possibility.

The main problem of sensors that must be addressed is the selective reaction to Gaza. Irene Kuznetsova explains the problem thus: “Fungi can respond to several chemical impurities in the air, and so the challenge is to isolate the useful signal, which will warn about the content in the air a specific gas. We need to create a sensitive film based on mycelium, which will only react to the desired gas”