Work

High Concordance of E-Nose-Derived Breathprints in a Healthy Population: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Exhaled breath analysis using electronic noses (e-noses) is a promising non-invasive diagnostic tool. However, a lack of standardized protocols limits clinical implementation. This study evaluates the consistency of breathprints in healthy subjects using the Cyranose 320 e-nose to support standardization efforts. Breath samples from 139 healthy non-smoking subjects (age range 18-65 years) were collected using a standardized protocol. Participants exhaled into a Tedlar bag for immediate analysis with the Cyranose 320. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to reduce data dimensionality, and K-means clustering grouped subjects based on breathprints. PCA identified four principal components explaining 97.15% of variance. K-means clustering revealed two clusters: 1 outlier and 138 subjects with highly similar breathprints. The median distance from the cluster center was 0.21 (IQR: 0.18-0.24), indicating low variability. Box plots confirmed breathprint consistency across subjects. The high consistency of breathprints in healthy subjects supports the feasibility of standardizing e-nose protocols. These findings highlight the potential of e-noses for clinical diagnostics, warranting further research in diverse populations and disease cohorts.

Source: Sensors

DOI: 10.3390/s25082610

Authors: Silvano Dragonieri, Vitaliano Nicola Quaranta, Andrea Portacci, Teresa Ranieri, Giovanna Elisiana Carpagnano

Institution: University of Bari Aldo Moro

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Chemical Sensor Technologies

Subfield: Biomedical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137