Cambridge: Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a novel experimental sensor capable of diagnosing lung diseases, including pneumonia, by analyzing a patient's breath. This technology offers a potential alternative to X-rays and conventional laboratory tests.

According to Oman News Agency, the innovative technology relies on an ultra-small, chip-sized sensor that captures synthetic compounds known as biomarkers. These biomarkers are initially attached to inhalable nanoparticles and function as "smart tags," detaching only in the presence of a specific biochemical trigger, such as disease-related enzymes in the lungs. When the sensor detects the released biomarkers, it signals the presence of illness.

The device employs advanced techniques including spectroscopy and plasmonics, enabling the detection of extremely low concentrations of these biomarkers with high precision. In laboratory trials, the sensor demonstrated significant efficacy, identifying chemical signals even at minute concentrations. It enabled diagnosis within minutes rather than hours or days, without the need for blood draws or other invasive sampling-a breakthrough that could facilitate early detection of lung disease and improve treatment outcomes.

Laboratory results also showed high accuracy in detecting biomarkers associated with pulmonary conditions. Researchers expect the sensor's use may extend beyond pneumonia to other respiratory diseases, as well as to detecting airborne chemical pollutants and a range of illnesses traceable through the "breathprint."