A handheld biofluorometric system for acetone detection in exhaled breath condensates

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry
• Metabolic Monitoring

Background:

• Acetone is a key marker for human metabolism, crucial for monitoring lipid metabolism and early diabetes detection.
• Current methods for acetone detection may lack the portability and sensitivity required for widespread clinical use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a compact, battery-operated handheld biosensor for acetone detection using fluorescence.
• To evaluate the sensor's performance and its applicability in analyzing exhaled breath condensate.

Main Methods:

• Developed a fluorometric NADH detection system utilizing the enzymatic reaction of secondary alcohol dehydrogenase (S-ADH) with NADH.
• Optimized working conditions and evaluated sensor characteristics for acetone quantification.
• Measured acetone concentrations in exhaled breath condensate from healthy subjects at rest and after fasting.

Main Results:

• The handheld biosensor accurately quantified acetone in the range of 510 nM–1 mM within 1 minute.
• Detected significant differences in acetone levels in exhaled breath condensate between resting and fasting states (p = 0.011).
• The system demonstrated high sensitivity, selectivity, and portability.

Conclusions:

• The developed battery-operated acetone biosensor is a sensitive and selective tool for clinical diagnosis.
• Its handheld portability makes it suitable for wearable biochemical sensors and point-of-care applications.
• This technology holds promise for improved metabolic monitoring and early disease detection.