POC-ASTHMA: Point of care exhaled breath test for asthma diagnosis

"We propose to investigate the feasibility of a point of care (POC) exhaled breath test for the diagnosis of asthma for use in primary care setting. The rapid and accurate diagnosis of asthma and identification of patients would be essential to ensure that adequate treatment, including hospitalisation when necessary, is implemented as early as possible. This type of diagnostic techniques would lead to more efficacious treatments and help to reduce the burden of disease.

Asthma is mainly diagnosed principally on the basis of a careful clinical history take taken by a clinician. However, studies of adults diagnosed with asthma suggest that up to 30% do not have clear evidence of asthma. There is a critical need for objective testing using fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that would offer a significant improvement to current practise.

We will work on innovatively integrating these two new sensor elements into a handheld device for use by healthcare professionals. A low-cost gas sensor fabricated using active nanomaterial metal oxide (MOx) gas sensor array and flexible polymer substrates for the detection FeNO and VOC biomarkers in exhaled breath associated with the diagnosis and management of asthma. A new flow sensor fabricated using new nanomaterial formulations that can detect and measure gas flow that could be used to make lung function measurements.

Nanomaterial formulations will be carefully formulated and deposited onto plastic substrates and subsequently modified to selectively detect FeNO and VOC biomarkers. The printed FeNO gas sensor will be then excited using Applied Nanodetectors new patented innovative excitation technique and then exposed to test gases mixtures to optimize the sensor performance. The target is to provide breakthrough technology in diagnostics which can potentially significantly lower measurement costs and improve diagnostic testing. This would lead to a reduction in costly drugs given to people misdiagnosed and also early diagnosis will ensure patients get the appropriate treatment leading to improve outcomes. Exploitation of these project results will lead to development of prototype that can used for clinical validation and clinical utility studies."