The SICRIT® Solution for Breath Analysis

Significance of the Topic

Breath analysis has emerged as a powerful non-invasive approach to monitor volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that reflect metabolic and pathological processes. Sensitive detection of exhaled biomarkers can support early diagnosis and treatment monitoring of respiratory conditions, metabolic disorders, and infectious diseases. Innovations in soft plasma ionization coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry combine rapid sampling with molecular specificity, advancing clinical diagnostics beyond conventional methods.

Objectives and Study Overview

The study presents the SICRIT® breath analysis solution, which integrates a patented soft ionization source and a heated sampling interface with high-end mass spectrometers. The main goals are to demonstrate real-time VOC profiling in breath, achieve high mass accuracy for target and non-target biomarker identification, and ensure hygienic, loss-free sampling compatible with LC-MS platforms.

Methodology and Instrumentation

SICRIT® employs a cold plasma dielectric barrier discharge to softly ionize analytes in exhaled breath, minimizing fragmentation and generating predominant molecular ion species. Exhalations are captured via disposable mouthpieces or optional sampling accessories and heated to prevent condensation. Ions flow directly into atmospheric-pressure inlets of QTOF, Orbitrap, or FT-ICR mass spectrometers, achieving resolutions up to 1 000 000. The ionization covers a broad polarity range, matching and extending capabilities of ESI, APCI, and EI without sensitivity loss.

Used Instrumentation

• SICRIT® Ion Source: cold plasma dielectric barrier discharge for fragment-free ionization
• SC-30 Control Unit: regulates plasma parameters and connection modules
• MS Interface Modules: mechanical and electrical adapters for major vendors (Thermo Fisher, Agilent, SCIEX, Bruker, Waters, Shimadzu, JEOL)
• Breath Analysis Module: medical-grade flow path with disposable mouthpieces, virus/bacteria filters, activated charcoal filters

Main Results and Discussion

Direct mass spectral analysis of exhaled breath revealed complex VOC patterns with high resolution and mass accuracy. The soft ionization generated clean spectra dominated by MH+ ions, facilitating clear identification of isobaric compounds such as garlic-derived allicin (163.0017 m/z) versus onion markers (163.0033 m/z). The system enabled simultaneous detection of polar and nonpolar metabolites, with minimal ion losses and robust reproducibility across subjects. Breath profiles advanced patient stratification and kinetic monitoring of ingested compounds.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Non-invasive real-time biomarker screening for clinical diagnostics
• Rapid patient phenotyping based on VOC signatures
• Targeted and untargeted discovery of disease-related breath metabolites
• Monitoring of drug metabolism and food-borne aroma compounds
• Seamless integration into existing LC-MS workflows

Future Trends and Potential Applications

• Development of point-of-care breath analytics devices incorporating AI-driven pattern recognition
• Expansion into large biomolecule detection with optimized ionization protocols
• Hybrid sampling strategies using thermal desorption tubes or gas bags for retrospective analysis
• Real-time monitoring of environmental exposures and metabolic health in wearable formats
• Standardization of breathomics databases for multi-center clinical studies

Conclusion

The SICRIT® breath analysis platform delivers high-resolution, soft plasma ionization directly to mass spectrometers, enabling precise detection of exhaled VOCs. Its plug-and-play design, broad analyte coverage, and hygienic sampling module make it a versatile solution for non-invasive clinical diagnostics and biomarker discovery, promising enhanced patient care and research insights.