Ultratrace eNose Sensing of VOCs toward Breath Analysis Applications Utilizing an eNose-Based Analyzer

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Biomedical Engineering
• Sensor Technology

Background:

• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath are potential biomarkers for disease detection.
• Accurate measurement of ultratrace VOCs is challenging, especially under humid conditions.
• Existing breath analysis methods may require complex sample handling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the capability of the novel iLovEnose system for measuring ultratrace VOCs in simulated human breath.
• To evaluate the performance of the iLovEnose using a combination of metal oxide (MOX) gas sensors.
• To assess the system's reliability for quantitative analysis of specific VOCs.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the iLovEnose, a test bed for gas sensors with three temperature-controlled compartments.
• Equipped the system with 11 MOX gas sensors of various base technologies.
• Analyzed six target VOCs at ultralow concentrations (0.075–3 ppm) under high humidity (90% RH) using randomized measurements.
• Applied partial least-squares regression for quantitative concentration estimation.

Main Results:

• The iLovEnose successfully discriminated between six different VOCs.
• The system provided reliable quantitative measurements of VOC concentrations.
• Performance was validated across multiple measurements over two weeks.

Conclusions:

• The iLovEnose system demonstrates feasibility for detecting and quantifying ultratrace VOCs in breath.
• This technology holds potential for non-invasive disease diagnostics and monitoring through exhaled breath analysis.
• Further development could lead to advanced clinical applications in personalized medicine.