Discover your next big idea for life sciences at PACK EXPO Las Vegas
Experience a breakthrough in life sciences packaging—explore solutions from 2,300 suppliers spanning all industries, all in one place this September

Disease-Detecting Breathalyzer on the Horizon

Australian material engineer is fabricating “science behind a dog’s nose” that could one day analyze your breath to detect illness.

Chemical material patch that reacts to biomarkers. / Image: ABC Radio Sydney
Chemical material patch that reacts to biomarkers. / Image: ABC Radio Sydney

A recent ABC Radio Sydney article noted Dr. Noushin Nasiri, an engineer at University of Technology Sydney, is using nanotechnology to develop what would be the world’s smallest sensor capable of detecting disease in a patient’s breath. The breathalyzer would work by identifying biomarkers in the breath; currently there are 17 diseases that have clear biomarkers in human breath including diabetes, lung cancer, breast cancer, Parkinson’s disease, asthma schizophrenia, and kidney and liver failure.

Dr. Nasiri says there’s a higher chance of early detection by analyzing breath, allowing doctors to detect a disease before it enters the bloodstream or before cancer spreads enough to be picked up in an MRI. She notes that lung cancer is typically found at stage 4 giving patients a 10% chance of survival, but if identified early in the breath the chance of recovery could be 80%.

Nasiri believes a base product capable of detecting four to eight diseases is about three years away from hitting the market. Her long-term goal is to develop a sensor that detects 10 diseases in one breath that can deliver results via a smartphone app.

Pharmaceutical Innovations Report
Discover the latest breakthrough packaging technologies shaping the pharmaceutical sector. This report dives into cutting-edge innovations, from smart containers that enhance patient safety to eco-friendly materials poised to transform the industry’s sustainability practices. All from PACK EXPO. Learn how forward-thinking strategies are driving efficiency and redefining what’s possible in pharma packaging.
Learn More
Pharmaceutical Innovations Report
List: Digitalization Companies From PACK EXPO
Looking for CPG-focused digital transformation solutions? Download our editor-curated list from PACK EXPO featuring top companies offering warehouse management, ERP, digital twin, and MES software with supply chain visibility and analytics capabilities—all tailored specifically for CPG operations.
Download Now
List: Digitalization Companies From PACK EXPO