Breath analysis—performance and potential of ion mobility spectrometry

Ion mobility spectrometry is a fast and sensitive analytical method for the detection of gas phase analytes in the ppbv–pptv range under ambient conditions (pressure and temperature). Ion mobility spectrometers coupled with rapid pre-separation like multi-capillary columns (MCC/IMS) are suitable for the selective characterization of complex and humid mixtures. Recently, MCC/IMS have been applied to analyses of human breath for early diagnosis as well as medication and therapy control. The complete procedure of breath analyses including evaluation and interpretation of the data obtained is demonstrated for the first time on exhaled breath after the consumption of a particular candy as an example. An MCC/IMS equipped with a β-radiation source (63Ni) requires 5 to 10 min for a complete analysis of exhaled breath. Retention time and reduced ion mobility of the detected signals are compared to an analyte database for the identification of the related analytes. These findings were successfully validated by gas-chromatographic mass spectroscopy of the headspace of the candy via solid-phase micro-extraction and of breath samples on Tenax adsorption tubes. Furthermore, signal height of particular analyte signals as a measure for their concentration was used to monitor the concentration development with time. This exemplary investigation demonstrates that MCC/IMS is a powerful and rapid non-invasive tool for human breath analyses. The method can be used for medical applications (diagnosis, therapy control, metabolic profiling) as well as for a general determination of the metabolic state of a subject (medication, nutrition, fasting). The demonstrated procedure is independent of whether the analytes detected in breath are caused by nutrition or medication or whether they are metabolite characteristics for a particular disease. Therefore, it can directly be transferred to any relevant peak pattern.