FeNO asthma diagnostic

"Applied Nanodetectors (AND) propose to investigate the feasibility of a low cost fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) breath test for the diagnosis of asthma for use in primary care settings. 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 taken by a clinician. However, studies of adults diagnosed with asthma suggest that up to 30% do not have clear evidence of asthma. Recent NHS asthma guidelines have recommended the need for objective testing using FeNO that would offer a significant improvement to current practise.

We will work on innovatively integrating this new FeNO sensor into a handheld device for use by healthcare professionals. A low-cost gas sensor fabricated using active nanomaterial metal oxide (MOx) gas sensor array for the detection exhaled nitric oxide in exhaled breath associated with the diagnosis and management of asthma. This sensor would be integrated with Applied Nanodetectors sensor electronics and a new prototype would be developed in this project.

Nanomaterial formulations will be deposited onto plastic substrates and subsequently modified to selectively detect FeNO and has exhaled gas flow rates. The disposable FeNO gas sensor will be then excited using Applied Nanodetectors new patented innovative 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."