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- They opened the air: respiratory infections will be detected by breathing
They opened the air: respiratory infections will be detected by breathing
Russian scientists are developing a universal device for analyzing exhaled air for the diagnosis of respiratory diseases. It can be used to monitor the course of diseases, rehabilitation, as well as to monitor medication intake and exercise levels. Experts have already created the first generalized chemical classification of compounds that, when exhaled, indicate various diseases. The method is promising for the primary diagnosis of infections, as it is non-invasive and does not require any training from the doctor and the patient, experts told Izvestia.
How to identify a disease by exhaled air
MIPT scientists are working on creating a universal device for analyzing exhaled air, which will significantly increase the reliability of diagnosing respiratory diseases. As the developers told Izvestia, they use the condensation method, which can be called the most stable way to collect and preserve exhaled air, used in research around the world.
Condensate is an ultra-diluted solution containing a large number of substances of various chemical nature that are potentially capable of interacting with each other. At the same time, the substances necessary for the analysis are concentrated in less than 1% of the total composition. Given these difficulties, the Laboratory of Molecular Medical Diagnostics at MIPT has created a generalized chemical classification of biomarker compounds for various diseases.
— This is an important stage of development, which can be called an approach to the medical application of a high-tech gas analyzer based on high-resolution mass spectrometry. The technology allows us to study substances by measuring the ratio of the mass of ionized atoms to their charge, including for medical diagnostics, in our project — for the analysis of exhaled air," said Stanislav Pekov, senior researcher at the Laboratory of Molecular Medical Diagnostics at MIPT.
The experts analyzed existing methods for collecting exhaled air condensate, issues related to its concentration and storage, analysis methods using modern analytical devices to identify biomarkers of various diseases, approaches to processing and interpreting the results.
As the scientists explained, despite the fact that the condensate of exhaled air consists of more than 99% water, it contains more than 3,500 different compounds.
The market of gas analyzers
During the analysis, the researchers found that many markers are derivatives of each other. That is, during condensation, one substance passes into another, and, accordingly, during the analysis, another molecule is found instead of one. By understanding the mechanisms by which chemical transformation of molecules occurs during air condensation, scientists can use this data to analyze both exhaled air and its condensate simultaneously. This will increase the reliability of the result and create a more versatile system, Stanislav Pekov emphasized.
— We expect that using this technology we will significantly expand the application of the analysis of exhaled air and its condensate. Not only to assess the condition of patients, but also to study the condition of a healthy person under various loads, for example, during sports training. We will be able to evaluate the metabolism in order to optimize exercise. This is very important to achieve the most effective training of athletes. The body should not go into an extreme mode when it starts to eat itself if it does not have enough air or resources. In this regard, the analysis of exhaled air is very convenient because we can monitor the athlete's condition relatively continuously," he said.
Scientists suggest doing the same for patients undergoing rehabilitation treatment. Doctors will be able to regularly assess their health status and the progress of recovery itself. This is especially important during climate change and spa treatment.
— In addition to the sea air, we are affected by elevated temperatures and solar activity. And such heat stress is not always positive. It can also lead to a negative effect on the body due to an unfavorable combination with increased physical activity," emphasized Stanislav Pekov.
The next step for the team of scientists is to create a system for collecting exhaled air, as well as a broad study of various ways of its preservation or intermediate storage. This will allow you to untie the research point from the time of direct work with the patient and expand its scope.
The analysis of volatile substances in exhaled air is a very attractive method of primary diagnosis, since it is non—invasive and does not require any training from the doctor and the patient. The creation of portable devices will make this method very convenient to use, Andrey Sokolov, head of the Laboratory of new medical materials and technologies at the NOPC GLT SamSMU of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, market expert at NTI Helsnet, told Izvestia.
— At the same time, the development and identification of diagnostically significant markers and their threshold concentrations is a challenge, since the metabolism of microorganisms, both pathogenic and friendly, is similar. In addition, the microflora of the oral cavity has a significant effect on the composition of exhaled air. This task requires close cooperation with doctors, microbiologists and specialists in the field of mass spectrometry and chromatography," he said.
The idea of creating an exhaled air analyzer for functional diagnostics, diagnosis of various diseases and conditions of the body is not new. An example is the alcohol analyzer used in the activities of the traffic police, said Vladimir Zhukov, head of the Biotech club "Boiling Points Omsk", head of the technology company BruttoNetto.
— The accuracy of testing using air analyzers is very high, the speed and ease of diagnosis are sometimes not inferior to classical methods, including rapid tests. These methods can be adapted for concert venues and places of mass gathering of people, identifying the risk of infection," he said.
The market size of respiratory analyzers in 2021 was estimated at $2.90 billion and will reach $9.7 billion by 2030. At the same time, the largest growth is projected in the Asia-Pacific region, the expert said.
The result of the work of MIPT scientists is published in the journal Current Molecular Medicine. The work is carried out within the framework of the analytical instrument engineering program of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.
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