Ultrasensitive QRS made by supramolecular assembly of functionalized cyclodextrins and graphene for the detection of lung cancer VOC biomarkers.

A novel electronic nose system comprising functionalized β-cyclodextrin wrapped reduced graphene oxide (RGO) sensors with distinct ability of discrimination of a set of volatile organic compounds has been developed. Non-covalent modification of chemically functionalized cyclodextrin with RGO is carried out by using pyrene adamantane as a linker wherever necessary, in order to construct a supramolecular assembly. The chemical functionality on cyclodextrin is varied utilising the principle of selective chemical modification of cyclodextrin. In the present study, the combined benefits of the host-guest inclusion complex formation ability and tunable chemical functionality of cyclodextrin, as well as the high surface area and electrical conductivity of graphene, are utilized for the development of a set of highly selective quantum resistive chemical vapour sensors (QRS), which can be assembled in an electronic nose.