Sensores Eletroquímicos para Detecção de Doenças por Meio de Análise Respiratória de Compostos Orgânicos Voláteis (COVs): uma Revisão Abrangente

Resumo

Early detection of disease is crucial to improving health outcomes. In recent decades, studies and validation
of biomarkers present in exhaled air as indicators of various medical conditions have intensified, such
as respiratory and digestive diseases, cancer among others. In the global healthcare scenario, effective,
rapid, and non-invasive diagnosis of these diseases at the point of care (POC) is crucial, as these locations
experience the greatest patient demand. In this sense, the development of devices such as electrochemical
biosensors and e-Nose are effective methods for diagnosing diseases through the analysis of exhaled air,
the main source of these biomarkers. Recent research demonstrates the potential of these electrochemical
sensors in detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other substances present in exhaled air that
are indicative of diseases, with high sensitivity, selectivity, and reproducibility. Focusing on the diagnosis
of chronic kidney disease, lung cancer, and asthma, this review explores methods for detecting substances
present in exhaled air using electrochemical sensors. It then discusses the potential applications of
these sensors to detect disease-specific biomarkers in exhaled air, pointing out the main challenges and
perspectives to be faced for real application in disease diagnosis.