E.Co.Tech-electrochemical handheld breathalyzer COVID sensing technology

Abstract

Breathomics is widely emerging as a strategy for non-invasive diagnosis of respiratory inflammation. In this study, we have evaluated the metabolic signals associated with Coronavirus (SARS COV-2), mainly the release of nitric oxide in breath. We have demonstrated the utility of a breath analyzer-based sensor platform for the detection of trace amounts of this target species. The sensor surface is modified with Room Temperature Ionic Liquid (RTIL) that allows faster diffusion of the target gas and can be used for gas sensing application. A low limit of detection (LOD) of 50 parts per billion has been achieved with a 95% confidence interval for detection of nitric oxide.. This inhouse designed sensor is incorporated into a breath analyzer system that displays enhanced sensitivity, specificity, linearity, and reproducibility for NO gas monitoring. The developed sensor platform can detect target concentrations of NO ranging from 50 to 250 ppb, using 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium Tetrafluoroborate ([EMIM]BF4) as RTIL and displays fast response time of 5 s, thereby allowing easy detection of the target gas species. The sensor successfully quantifies the diffusion current and charge modulations arising within the electrical double layer from the RTIL–NO interactions through DC-based chronoamperometry (CA). The subjects tested negative and positive are significantly different (p < 0.01). The prototype can potentially be used for human health monitoring and screening, especially during the pandemic due to its portability, small size, an embedded RTIL sensing element, integrability with a low-power microelectronic device, and an IoT interface.

Recent Advances in Gas Detection Methodologies with a Special Focus on Environmental Sensing and Health Monitoring Applications─A Critical Review

“…The property of RTIL has also been applied toward sensing of nitric oxide levels in breath as a marker of respiratory distress, leading to eosinophilic airway inflammation. The authors fabricated a RTIL modified interdigitated electrode for detecting nitric oxide levels in the range of 50–200 ppb as a screen for respiratory inflammation due to COVID-19 infection …”

“…Electrochemical biosensors generally utilize chemical interactions such as antibodies/antigens and transduce them into electrical signals utilizing electroanalytical methods. For the application of gas-sensing, Room Temperature Ionic Liquids (RTILs) are used for the modification of electrodes/transducer surfaces to allow adsorption and detection of various gases and VOCs . Other market alternatives to gas-sensing cannot be translated into a portable device or are more costly to implement.…”

Micro and Nano Interdigitated Electrode Array (IDEA)-Based MEMS/NEMS as Electrochemical Transducers: A Review

“…Interdigitated electrode array (IDEA) from carbon and metal sources, in contrast, emerges as a favorable electrode biosensor for various health-monitoring and biomedical applications. Indeed, numerous pieces of research highlighting the development of an IDEAs-based biosensor with various detection methods have been extensively reported [ 24 , 25 , 26 ]. Enhanced signal amplification allowing detection of low-concentration bioanalytes displayed by an IDEAs-based biosensor proved to be advantageous for electrochemical biosensing [ 27 , 28 , 29 ].…”

Assembly of Core/Shell Nanospheres of Amorphous Hemin/Acetone-Derived Carbonized Polymer with Graphene Nanosheets for Room-Temperature NO Sensing

“…4 Moreover, there are some recently published studies presenting the application of FeNO in the risk stratification of COVID-19 patients. 5 Hence, parts per billion-level NO monitoring showed its unique credit in the clinical diagnosis of respiratory disease. Nevertheless, the detection of parts per billion-level NO still remains a big challenge due to the instinctive short half-life and high reactivity of NO molecules.…”

“…Many studies have shown that fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO, parts per billion level) is a typical biomarker of respiratory inflammation, which is significantly correlated with respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic cough . Moreover, there are some recently published studies presenting the application of FeNO in the risk stratification of COVID-19 patients . Hence, parts per billion-level NO monitoring showed its unique credit in the clinical diagnosis of respiratory disease.…”