Ellis James E, Star Alexander
Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA.
Chempluschem. 2016 Dec;81(12):1248-1265. doi: 10.1002/cplu.201600478. Epub 2016 Oct 26.
Breath analysis is a promising method for rapid, inexpensive, noninvasive disease diagnosis and health monitoring owing to the correlative relationship between breath biomarker concentrations and abnormal health conditions. However, current methods to identify and quantify breath components rely on large, bench-top analytical instruments. Carbon nanotube (CNT)-based gas sensors are desirable candidates to replace benchtop instruments because of their sensitive chemical-to-electrical transducer capability, high degree of chemical functionality options, and potential for miniaturization. This review seeks to give an overview of the synthetic methods used to functionalize CNT-based gas sensors, specifically those sensors that target biologically relevant breath markers. Specific examples are provided to highlight the sensing mechanisms behind different classes of CNT hybrid composites. Finally, the current challenges and prospective solutions of applying CNT-based sensors to breath analysis are discussed.
由于呼出气体生物标志物浓度与健康异常状况之间存在关联关系，呼吸分析是一种用于快速、廉价、无创疾病诊断和健康监测的很有前景的方法。然而，目前识别和量化呼吸成分的方法依赖于大型台式分析仪器。基于碳纳米管（CNT）的气体传感器因其灵敏的化学-电转换能力、高度的化学功能选择以及小型化潜力，是替代台式仪器的理想选择。本综述旨在概述用于功能化基于CNT的气体传感器的合成方法，特别是那些针对与生物相关的呼吸标志物的传感器。提供了具体实例以突出不同类别的CNT混合复合材料背后的传感机制。最后，讨论了将基于CNT的传感器应用于呼吸分析的当前挑战和潜在解决方案。
