Detection of Volatile Organic Compounds as Biomarkers in Breath Analysis by Different Analytical Techniques

Abstract

Breath is a rich mixture containing numerous volatile organic compounds at trace amounts (ppbv-pptv level) such as: hydrocarbons, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, esters or heterocycles. The presence of some of them depends on health status. Therefore, breath analysis might be useful for clinical diagnostics, therapy monitoring and control of metabolic or biochemical cell cycle products. This Review presents an update on the latest developments in breath analysis applied to diagnosing different diseases with the help of high-quality equipment. Efforts were made to fully and accurately describe traditional and modern techniques used to determine the components of breath. The techniques were compared in terms of design, function and also detection limit of different volatile organic compounds. GC with different detectors, MS, optical sensor and laser spectroscopic detection techniques are also discussed.

Physiological variability in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath and released from faeces due to nutrition and somatic growth in a standardized caprine animal model

“…Therefore, the clinical application of VOC analysis may be a promising tool for the non-invasive diagnosis of metabolic, inflammatory, or infectious diseases in humans (Spanel and Smith 2011, Buszewski et al 2013, Wang and Wang 2013 and animals (Dobbelaar et al 1996, Knobloch et al 2010, Purkhart et al 2011, Peled et al 2012, Ellis et al 2014.…”

Application of quantum cascade lasers to trace gas detection

“…Highly quantitative detection of gases is traditionally dominated by mass spectrometry, gas chromatography, pellistors, semiconductor gas sensors or electrochemical devices [1]. The main inconveniences of mass spectrometry and gas chromatography are the size and cost of the apparatus as well as the complicated maintenance.…”

Detection of Gaseous Compounds with Different Techniques

“…Application of high sensitivity gas sensors is widespread in the gas diagnosis, for instance to evaluate different noxious species, to detect various biomarkers in breath or to search trace amounts of explosives [4]. Detecting methods are dominated by mass spectrometry, chromatography, catalytic sensors, thermal conductivity sensors, semiconductor sensors, electrochemical devices or acoustic sensors [5]. The performance characteristics of sensors are based on some properties including their sensitivity, selectivity, detection limit, response time and recovery time.…”