Metal-Organic-Framework Kinetic Array for Diabetes Detection

Diabetes mellitus is a global health concern affecting 537 million people and resulting in over 6.7 million deaths yearly. Diagnosis currently relies on blood analysis, which is expensive, time-consuming, and invasive. Breath analysis based on the detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is a promising non-invasive alternative.

However, selectively measuring specific VOCs in breath is challenging due to their low concentrations and the presence of interfering compounds.

Since current miniature sensors cannot efficiently distinguish between VOCs, there is a need for a novel technology capable of distinguishing a VOC of interest from a complex background.

This project aims to address this challenge by combining a highly promising class of porous crystalline materials, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), with sensor technology.

A novel sensing concept based on the kinetic selectivity in the pores of the MOFs will be leveraged to mimic natures approach to olfaction and enable selective sensing.

A demonstrator will be established to enable diabetes mellitus diagnosis and prove the breakthrough potential of this disruptive sensing platform.