Development of stereoselective e-tongue sensors considering the sensor performance using specific quality attributes—A bottom up approach

Abstract Application of electronic tongues considering possible different taste properties of enantiomers is of high interest as it supports the stereoselective development of palatable oral pharmaceuticals. In this study, membrane electrodes functioning as electronic tongue sensors showing acceptable sensor performance with regard to signal stability and reproducibility as well as sensitivity were developed in first place. The basic membrane compositions were further modified to generate the first electronic tongue sensors that are capable of stereoselective discrimination of chiral molecules. The impact of the cyclodextrin derivatives s-cyclodextrin, hydroxypropyl-s-cyclodextrin, a cyclodextrin oligomer, sulfobutylethylether-s-cyclodextrin, triacetyl-s-cyclodextrin and heptakis(2,6-di- O -methyl)-s-cyclodextrin on the chiral recognition of d - and l -glutamic acid, d -and l -asparagine as well as l -praziquantel and its racemate was therefore determined. Depending on the basic membrane composition, the cyclodextrins were found to exhibit different capabilities for a stereoselective detection of the model chiral molecules.