Technology Talk: Founder Jan-Christoph Wolf on the SICRIT® Breath Application
Breath analysis is revolutionizing medical diagnostics, providing a non-invasive, real-time health monitoring method. Capable of detecting thousands of biomarkers in seconds, SICRIT® could transform our understanding of metabolic processes. The founder, Jan-Christoph Wolf, has been interviewed to gain deeper insights into this groundbreaking technology.
Please elaborate the SICRIT® application for breath analysis and how it facilitates the discovery and analysis of biomarkers in breath.
The SICRIT® Breath Analysis Module enables direct, real-time exhaled breath measurements. A disposable mouthpiece connects to a heated sampling line and ion source adapter, allowing non-invasive metabolic monitoring of volatile compounds in breath. This real-time analysis helps identify potential biomarkers, as demonstrated in studies showing metabolic profile differences between individuals and changes within the same individual over time.
Can the SICRIT® Breath Analysis Module be integrated into all mass spectrometers? How does this flexibility impact its utility in different clinical settings?
In a clinical setting, the SICRIT® source can be used in combination with a high-resolution MS for biomarker discovery. Once the biomarkers are identified, the same source can be used on-site at a doctor’s office or a point-of-care facility with a much smaller and cheaper single or triple quadrupole MS to monitor the respective biomarkers in a patient’s breath.
The technology allows for the creation of unique metabolomic profiles. What insights can these profiles provide to healthcare professionals, and how do they enhance patient care?
The SICRIT® technology provides detailed metabolomic profiles, offering insights into a wide range of molecules, such as amino acids, oxidative stress markers, and inflammation indicators. These profiles help healthcare professionals understand multiple metabolic pathways in real time, which is not possible with traditional blood tests. SICRIT®’s ability to analyze thousands of biomarkers in just 10 seconds enables real-time monitoring of dynamic processes like drug metabolism, dosage accuracy, and anesthesia levels, offering a more comprehensive and personalized approach to patient care.
Thank you, Jan, for your insights into this technology.
As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, technologies like SICRIT® are paving the way for more precise, real-time diagnostics. Innovations like these bring us closer to more accurate, safe and patient-friendly healthcare solutions.
Find out more about the set-up of this breath analysis application or our latest App Note SICRIT®-HRMS for Targeted Exposomic-Metabolomic Research through Direct Respiratory Analysis on our website.