Real-Time Detection of D-Glucose Molecules in Exhaled Aerosols Using a Biochemical Sensor for Breathalyzer Applications

Abstract

The growing prevalence of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, underscores the need for rapid, noninvasive monitoring technologies, as conventional methods are frequently invasive. Exhaled breath aerosol provides a noninvasive alternative to blood sampling for glucose monitoring, but its dilute nature demands highly sensitive sensors for micromolar-level detection. This study presents a novel biosensor utilizing a molecularly imprinted polymer designed to selectively target D-glucose molecules from exhaled breath aerosols. The sensor underwent thorough testing across a range of aerosolized glucose concentrations and was validated using exhaled breath condensate (EBC) samples from healthy subjects, utilizing a 3-D printed breathalyzer device. The findings demonstrate a significant correlation between D-glucose levels in EBC (aerosols) and sensor resistance.