Executive Summary : | Objective: Goal of this proposal would be to develop a single hand-held easy-to-use device with multiplexed sensors for simultaneously detecting and monitoring multiple diseases, such as diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and diseases of Kidney and Liver Summary: The presence of identifiable biomarkers of multiple diseases in exhaled breadth increases the possibility of detecting and monitoring multiple diseases directly from exhaled breath in a non-invasive manner. Particularly those biomarkers, which are present in exhaled breath at concentrations of 50 ppb and more, can certainly be detected by chemiresistive sensing technology. Chemiresistive gas sensing technology works based on the ability of certain materials to change their resistivities on exposure to gas molecules and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The presence of reducing gases decreases the resistivity of n-type semiconducting materials, whereas oxidizing gases increases the resistivity; and vice versa in case of p-type semiconductors. As part of our ongoing research on chemiresistive sensors, we have developed several sensing materials and devices for detecting various gases and VOCs including a few biomarkers in exhaled breath. In this project, we propose to develop various novel sensing materials for detecting multiple biomarkers of potentially fatal diseases and incorporate them in a single device to detect and monitor such diseases at a time. Particularly, efforts will be given to detect various biomarkers including but not limited to acetone, H2S, NO and CO. Detecting and monitoring concentrations of these biomarkers in exhaled breath will enable us to detect and monitor multiple diseases at a time. Final goal of this proposal would be to develop a single hand-held easy-to-use device with multiplexed sensors for simultaneously detecting and monitoring multiple diseases, such as diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and diseases of Kidney and Liver. |