You’ll soon be able to know if you have lung cancer by not just breathing out. Scientists have developed a small scale testing Using a prototype device with ultra-sensitive monitors, he demonstrated that he could accurately detect the difference between eight healthy individuals and five people with lung cancer.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and has the highest death rates among both men and women. by world Health According to the organization (WHO), lung cancer is often diagnosed in advanced stages when treatment options are limited.

The device was created by a team led by researchers from Zhejiang University in China. According to a report by Science Alert, the device is looking for the compound isoprene.

Scientists suggest that low isoprene levels have been identified as a potential indicator of lung cancer, but this is a small change that is very difficult to measure.

“Our work not only provides a breakthrough in low-cost, non-invasive cancer screening through breath analysis, but also advances the rational design of cutting-edge gas sensing materials,” the researchers write in their published paper cited by Science Alert.

To achieve the required sensitivity in breathing monitors, scientists used nanoflakes made from a combination of platinum, indium, nickel and oxygen. When isoprene hits the nanoflakes, it triggers a measurable release of electrons.

The researchers emphasized that laboratory tests have shown that nanoflakes can specifically identify isoprene among other chemicals. Moreover, these nanoflakes can also work in higher humidity conditions, which is necessary for a breath monitor. But even researchers admit there’s still a long way to go.

“Aiming for what matters Sunday Future commercialization of lung cancer diagnostics technology Researchers say that the accurate relationship between breath isoprene and lung cancer requires continued research on data analysis algorithms and integration techniques with portable devices, according to Science Alert.

It is noteworthy that the damage caused by lung cancer affects some of the body’s basic metabolic processes. Scientists believe that the changes somehow affect isoprene in a way that reveals the presence of the disease.

“Continued research on the relationship between breath isoprene levels and lung cancer, as well as various influencing factors (e.g., age, health status), may help improve and further commercialize the technology,” the researchers write.

The findings of the study were published in the journal ACS Sensors.