Breakthrough in Disease Detection: Nanopore Sensor
A nanopore-based technology has been developed to detect individual volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in real-time, paving the way for fast and low-cost chemical profiling.
This innovative approach uses engineered protein pores to target aldehydes, which are important markers of human health, by briefly binding them inside nanoscale channels. This binding process generates distinct electrical signals that reveal the chemical identity and abundance of the aldehydes.
Aldehydes belong to a wider family of VOCs released in breath and bodily fluids. Subtle shifts in their relative levels have been linked to various diseases, including cancer, respiratory disorders, and viral infections like Covid-19.
Volatiles in breath could be used to detect disease by an accurate chemical sensor.
The potential applications of this technology are vast, with possibilities for detecting infections and cancers through subtle shifts in bodily markers in breath.
Author's summary: Nanopore sensor detects individual VOCs.