Photonic Sensors for Detection of VOC Biomarkers

VOCs available in exhaled human breath are the products of metabolic activity in the body and, therefore, any changes in their control level can be utilized to diagnose specific diseases. More than 3000 VOCs have been identified in exhaled human breath along with the respiratory droplets which provide useful information on overall health conditions. This book covers the introductory information on VOCs, their source in the human body, associated diseases, potential sensing materials used for selective detection, and the advancement in the VOC sensing technologies. However, developing a rapid, highly selective, and sensitive VOC sensor remains a great challenge. This book analyzes all the challenges and their possible solutions that can be used to achieve target-specific detection and real-time monitoring of the VOC molecules in the exhaled breath. It also covers a detailed discussion of various sensing materials developed for selective and sensitive detection of VOC molecules and their integration with photonic devices in order to develop miniature technology. It covers various miniature sensing systems that are being exploited in VOC sensing such as interferometer, fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs), microstructured optical fiber (MOF), integrated photonics, 3D-printed optical devices, etc. Additionally, the book provides an overview of the FEM technique and computational methods used to optimize the optical sensing devices before practical realization. This book aims to provide comprehensive information to early career professionals and boost their existing knowledge in the area of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering.