title: Novel noninvasive identification of biomarkers by analytical profiling of chronic wounds using volatile organic compounds.
abstract: A complex profile of volatile organic compounds ("VOC"s) emanates from human skin, which is altered by changes in the body's metabolic or hormonal state, the external environment, and the bacterial species colonizing the skin surface. The aim of this study was to compare VOC profiles sampled from chronic leg wounds with those from asymptomatic skin. Five participants with chronic arterial leg ulcers were selected. VOC samples were obtained using polydimethylsilicone membranes ("skin-patch method") and analyzed by gas chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry. Resultant data were analyzed using multivariate analysis and mass spectral matches were compared against the National Institute of Standards and Technology database. Principal component analysis showed differences in profiles obtained from healthy skin and boundary areas and between profiles from healthy skin and lesion samples (p<0.05). Partial least squares for discriminant analysis gave an average prediction accuracy of 73.3% (p<0.05). Mass spectral matching (verified against microbial swab results) identified unique VOCs associated with each sample area, wound bacterial colonization, and ingested medications. This study showcases a reproducible, robust, noninvasive methodology that is applicable in a clinical setting and may offer a new, hitherto unexplored, class of biochemical markers underpinning the metabolism of chronic wounds.
authors.affiliation: Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Research, Manchester Interdisciplinary Biocentre, University of Manchester, and Department of Vascular Surgery, University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Alexis N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Svetlana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Riazanskaia
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Royston
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goodacre
authors.forename: C L Paul
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Mohamed S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Baguneid
authors.forename: Ardeshir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bayat
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001458:Bandages; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D004739:England; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D013048:Specimen Handling; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds