Desarrollo y validación de sensores químicos nanoestructurados selectivos para la detección de marcadores de enfermedades respiratorias en el aliento

Abstract

The doctoral work is focused on the study and development of selective chemical nanosensors for breath detection of compounds of interest as markers of respiratory diseases. To achieve this objective, a multi-disciplinary approach is adopted with a relevant part in the preparation of nanostructured materials using techniques such as electro-spinning or chemical vapour deposition. Thus, the materials prepared shall be chemically, structurally, and morphologically characterized by conventional analysis techniques (SEM, TEM, XPS, EDX...). Sensors manufactured from them shall be electrically characterized in gaseous atmospheres containing the target compounds to determine properties such as sensitivity, selectivity, response time and reproducibility. Due to the complexity of the breath composition, only a few representative compounds (carbon monoxide, nitrogen monoxide, acetaldehyde, ethanol) will be chosen for sensor characterization. Once the best sensitive materials have been selected and the nanosensors have been manufactured, a matrix of them will be integrated into a multisensor system that will also include commercial temperature and humidity sensors. This system will be validated in the laboratory in complex atmospheres simulating breath. In addition to the doctoral thesis, this work aims to develop a non-invasive diagnostic system for respiratory diseases and obtain a European patent on it.