Design an‎d Fabrication of Solid-State Colorimetric/Fluorometric Sensors for Monitoring 2-Butanone an‎d Propanal Biomarkers in Breath

9/22/2026 12:00:00 AM

Gastric cancer is one of the most important an‎d challenging diseases in human health, where early diagnosis can significantly improve treatment outcomes. Volatile organic compounds such as 2-butanone an‎d propanal, which are metabolites produced from metabolic processes in the body an‎d serve as key breath biomarkers, play a crucial role in the non-invasive detection of this disease. Accurate an‎d rapid measurement of these compounds in exhaled breath enables convenient an‎d effective monitoring. In this study, a solid-state fluorescent sensor based on lip balm functionalized with nitrogen-doped silicon quantum dots (NR-SiQDs) was designed an‎d synthesized for the selec‎tive detection of 2-butanone an‎d propanal in human breath, as well as for monitoring pH in saliva. The sensor system was integrated with a smartphone platform for fluorescence image acquisition an‎d analysis, enabling rapid an‎d convenient visual detection of biomarkers. The prepared materials an‎d fabricated sensor were characterized in terms of structural, morphological, an‎d optical properties using physicochemical methods an‎d various spectroscopic techniques, including UV-Vis, photoluminescence (PL), an‎d FTIR. In addition, optical an‎d chemical stability, pH cycling performance, an‎d other functional properties of the sensor were eva‎luated. Operational variables, including pH, reaction temperature, response time, salt effect, an‎d sample volume, were optimized. Under optimal conditions, the sensor exhibited a linear response for the detection of 2-butanone in the range of 0.25–5 ppb an‎d propanal in the range of 0.50–20 ppb. The limit of detection (LOD) values were determined to be 0.107 ppb an‎d 0.109 ppb, respectively, indicating the high sensitivity of the system. Furthermore, repeatability an‎d selec‎tivity tests in the presence of biological interfering species such as ethanol, 2-propanol, 2-butanol, formaldehyde, meta-xylene, an‎d hexane confirmed the robustness an‎d desirable selec‎tivity of the sensor. The findings of this study highlight the great potential of the NR-SiQD-based lip balm sensor as a reliable tool for clinical monitoring an‎d the early diagnosis of gastric cancer.

سرطان معده , تركيبات آلي فرار , نقاط كوانتومي سيليكوني , بالم لب , پروپانال , 2-بوتانون , حسگر فلوروسنجي

gastric cancer , silicon quantum dots , volatile organic compounds , lip balm , propanal , 2-butanone , fluorescent sensor

Sheida Dastani

Rouholah Zare Dorabei