Device for Monitoring Biological Volatiles Across Time

Description:

Volatile organic compounds (VOC) from different cell sources (cultured, animal or human) provide a wealth of untapped information regarding metabolic processes. They hold great potential for use as biomarkers for early non-invasive monitoring of cancer, infection and organ damage or failure. There are currently no technologies for optimal and reproducible VOC measurements from tissue or living organisms; existing approaches damage or destroy tissue/cells or organisms, limiting follow-up use of the sample.

Researchers at Arizona State University have designed a unique controlled environment system for continuous and extended detection of VOCs due to biological, chemical, environmental and mechanistic alterations in the sample. This technology enables VOC monitoring across time, produced from tissue or other living systems. Its unique geometry/ design is readily scalable and can also be coupled with other in vitro experiments to find utility in both clinical and research applications.

This system of continuous and extended period of measuring VOC has the potential to be used for detection of early biomarker in biological models of cancer, particularly lung cancer, lung infections, microbiological models and breath analyses.

Potential Applications

Measuring changes as a result of chemical, environmental and mechanistic changes in the sample
Multiplexing with other in vitro experiments for analyzing deep biological concepts
Early biomarker detection for diagnosis and prognosis of cancer, infectious diseases and organ failure
Incorporation into disease models, breath analyses and microbiological models

Benefits and Advantages

VOC detection can be performed in a continuous manner for an extended period of time
Readily scalable for multiplexed experiments
Geometry allows for laminar flow of air with minimal VOC loss
Integration of existing GC techniques facilitates rapid research and clinical adoption
Allows for dual imaging capability that facilitate pairing VOC measurement with visual reporters capable of deep biological exploration
Minimizes background/contaminant volatiles
Can be combined with existing gas chromatography mass spectrometry instrumentation
Controlled environment (temperature, oxygen, CO2) helps promote survival/growth
Input gas can be controlled to test other conditions (hypoxia, hyperoxia, etc.)

For more information about the inventor(s) and their research, please see

Dr. Smith's departmental webpage

Case ID:: M21-098L
Published:: 01-04-2022
Last Updated:: 08-30-2022

Inventor(s):

Barbara Smith Jarrett Eshima Joel Lusk Benjamin Ambrose

For More Information, Contact

Jovan Heusser
jheusser@asu.edu

Inventor(s):

Categories

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