Sniff-Cam (Bio-Fluorometric Gas-Imaging System) for Breath Acetaldehyde after Drinking

Abstract

We developed Sniff-cam (bio-fluorometric gas-imaging system) for visualization of breath acetaldehyde (ACE) which is produced by ethanol metabolism in liver after drinking. Sniff-cam employed an alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) immobilized cotton mesh with reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) for imaging of gaseous ACE distribution. NADH is consumed by ADH-mediated reduction of ACE, and its concentration and that of ACE are correlated. Therefore, imaging of gaseous ACE distribution was achieved by exciting NADH with an ultraviolet light-emitting diode array (340 nm wavelength) and recording the emitted fluorescence from NADH (490 nm wavelength) by a high sensitive camera. Decrement of fluorescence at around the gas outlet was observed when ACE vapor was introduced. This result demonstrates that the Sniff-cam could be applied for imaging of breath ACE.