Secondary electrospray ionization coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry reveals tryptophan pathway metabolites in exhaled human breath.
Many studies and personalized medicine in general require frequent measurements and/or rapid results of biomarker levels. Here we show that 20 low volatility metabolites of the tryptophan pathway can be detected in exhaled human breath. This real-time and non-invasive method offers an attractive alternative to blood analysis.
Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland. zenobi@org.chem.ethz.ch.
Diego
D
García-Gómez
Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
Thomas
T
Gaisl
Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland. zenobi@org.chem.ethz.ch.
Lukas
L
Bregy
Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland. zenobi@org.chem.ethz.ch.
Pablo
P
Martínez-Lozano Sinues
Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
Malcolm
M
Kohler
Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland. zenobi@org.chem.ethz.ch.
Renato
R
Zenobi
D001944:Breath Tests; D045853:Exhalation; D006801:Humans; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000378:metabolism*
D014364:Tryptophan