Sampling and emerging spectroscopic techniques for exhaled breath analysis: Analytical advances and future directions

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Environmental Science
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Exhaled breath aerosols (EBAs) are implicated in respiratory disease transmission, allergies, and pollution exposure.
• Monitoring EBAs, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and exhaled breath condensates (EBCs), is vital for infection control and personalized medicine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the significance of emerging Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and combined techniques for EBA detection and characterization.
• To examine advancements in EBA sampling methodologies and associated challenges.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on FTIR spectroscopy and complementary techniques (mass spectroscopy, Raman, PCR) for EBA analysis.
• Analysis of various EBA sampling techniques (impactors, filtration, cyclone samplers).
• Discussion of challenges in breath analysis, including standardization and environmental interference.

Main Results:

• FTIR spectroscopy, combined with other methods, can identify biological markers like proteins and lipids in EBAs.
• Optimized EBA sampling techniques are crucial for accurate and reliable analysis.
• Integrated FTIR and sampling methods show promise for enhanced bioaerosol detection.

Conclusions:

• The combination of FTIR spectroscopy and advanced EBA sampling presents a viable strategy for improving bioaerosol detection.
• This approach can significantly contribute to real-time disease surveillance and air quality monitoring in clinical and personal health settings.