Advances in volatile organic compound biomarker detection.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of biological origin are increasingly recognized as valuable noninvasive biomarkers.
• Volatilomics, the study of VOCs, has evolved since the 1970s, focusing on identifying biomarkers for diseases like cancer, metabolic disorders, and infections.
• VOCs can be detected in diverse biological samples, including breath, urine, blood, and sweat.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review viable biological sample types for VOC analysis.
• To highlight technological advancements in VOC sampling and analytical techniques.
• To discuss data processing strategies and biomarker selection methods.

Main Methods:

• Exploration of various biological sample matrices for VOC detection.
• Review of recent technological innovations in sample collection and analytical instrumentation.
• Analysis of sophisticated data processing algorithms and biomarker identification techniques.
• Review of current research on VOC discovery for specific diseases and sample types.

Main Results:

• Significant advancements in sampling and analytical technologies for VOC detection.
• Development of sophisticated data processing strategies for high-confidence biomarker selection.
• Review of state-of-the-art studies identifying VOC biomarkers for various diseases.
• Progress in addressing challenges such as elucidating VOC origins and clinical validation.

Conclusions:

• Volatilomics holds significant potential for noninvasive disease diagnosis and monitoring.
• Technological and analytical advancements are crucial for realizing the clinical utility of VOC biomarkers.
• Innovative approaches, including synthetic biomarkers, promise future applications in early and at-home disease detection.