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Volatile organic compound sensing in healthcare using optical interrogation of metal-organic frameworks

Lead Research Organisation: Brunel University London
Department Name: Life Sciences

Abstract

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.

Publications

10 25 50
 
Description We have developed a method for the quantification of the anaesthetic propofol in air, breath and headspace above blood so it can be monitored in real time.
We have also used that to measure propofol in breath of a small number of patients during anaesthesia. We collected blood samples and will analyse the blood samples when we have collected them from the final patient.
These will then be used to develop a model for how propofol is dispersed throughout the body by using infusion rates and amounts with blood and breath concentrations and by trying to identify breakdown products. The hope is to be able to use breath or blood monitoring in real time with these sensors also being developed in the project to be able to carefully control the amount of propofol in the body at any one time.
Exploitation Route This will be published and then can be used by others monitoring volatile compounds
Sectors Healthcare

Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology

 
Description We have developed a method to monitor the concentration of propofol in real time. Developments of the sensor will enable anaesthetists to monitor propofol concentrations during surgery; at the present this is done by estimating the concentration based on body mass and amount added, resulting in not being quite sure whether a patient is over or under anaesthetised. We have now taken samples from real patients during surgery who are anaesthetised with propofol meaning we should be able to relate the infusion rate and amount of propofol with the concentration measured in breath and blood
First Year Of Impact 2023
Sector Healthcare
Impact Types Societal

 
Title A method for testing the accuracy of fibre-opic sensors, and for their calibration 
Description A method has been developed to test how effective, accurate and rapid the fibre sensors are, and to calibrate their output. This method involves making up low cost standardised volatile compound headspaces and artificial breath using physical chemistry principles and a range of published Henry's law co-efficients and temperature (enthalpy) corrections. these can then be produced rapidly and effectively, and tested alongside selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry. these standardised headspaces can then be used in the appropriate materials to test the reaction speed, sensitivity and selectivity of the fibres, and whether they can be re-sued, or how long the baseline takes to return. This work is being written up for publication. 
Type Of Material Technology assay or reagent 
Year Produced 2017 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact This work will be submitted for publication, however the method is being used in our other work to provide other standardised headspaces to test other analytical equipment. 
 
Title Materials use 
Description This study has provided crucial data which will inform the development of new tools and processes. These data show which materials will interfere with the analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) through either absorbing them, or emitting competing and confounding VOCs. We have systematically studied a variety of materials that can be used in sample handling and fibre optic holders to see which can or can't be used, and the significance of their effects on individual VOCs. A manuscript has been prepared which will be submitted for publication shortly outlining these findings. 
Type Of Material Biological samples 
Year Produced 2017 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact A publication will result from this, which will disseminate these findings. Meantime, these findings are being used in the development of sampling and sample handling protocols for clinical samples.