An international team of researchers, including specialists from Samara University, has achieved a significant breakthrough: they`ve developed a blood test capable of identifying a life-threatening lung disease with over 90% accuracy in less than an hour. The promising results of their work have been published in the scientific journal Diagnostics.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is globally recognized as the third leading cause of mortality. Researchers from Samara National Research University named after Academician S.P. Korolev highlighted that in 2021 alone, COPD claimed the lives of 3.5 million people, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO). Traditional diagnostic methods, such as spirometry (which measures lung function), often fail to detect the disease in its early stages, complicating timely intervention and treatment.
To address this critical issue, the scientific group at Samara University pioneered a novel diagnostic approach. This method relies on analyzing the spectral characteristics of blood using advanced laser technologies combined with silver nanostructures. It enables the detection of subtle changes in the composition of proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates that are indicative of respiratory system diseases.
«It`s akin to how fingerprints help identify a criminal; here, we`re searching for the `chemical fingerprints` of diseases. The laser beam, interacting with the blood, registers unique alterations associated with lung inflammation and damage,» explained Lyudmila Bratchenko, Associate Professor at Samara University`s Department of Laser and Biotechnical Systems.
According to Bratchenko, this new diagnostic technique boasts an accuracy exceeding 90% for general respiratory diseases. She further elaborated, «The model demonstrated an impressive accuracy of up to 92% in recognizing all respiratory conditions. When it came to differentiating between Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and bronchial asthma – two conditions with very similar symptoms but distinct underlying mechanisms – the accuracy was around 61%.»
While similar research initiatives exist, the team emphasizes that their project`s key advantage lies in its comprehensive integration of statistical analysis methods and the development of a model specifically designed for highly accurate disease differentiation based on blood spectral data.
Bratchenko underlined the practical value of their method: «Its speed, approximately 30 minutes, and its minimally invasive nature are significant benefits. In the future, this could alleviate the burden on medical institutions and reduce the number of undiagnosed cases, especially in regions facing a shortage of specialized medical personnel.»
During the research, silver nanostructures were employed to amplify signals from Raman scattering spectroscopy. Blood serum spectra were then recorded using a 785-nanometer wavelength laser. The authors of the study confirmed that the developed diagnostic model underwent extensive validation through numerous testing cycles.
The scientists` next steps involve expanding the sample size to further refine the accuracy of disease detection. They also plan to integrate spectroscopy with more precise biochemical analysis to pinpoint specific biomarkers for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, paving the way for even more targeted diagnostics.
The collaborative study involved experts from several institutions, including Samara State Medical University, Samara City Clinical Hospital No. 1 named after N. I. Pirogov, Mechnikov North-Western State Medical University, and the Institute of Photonics and Photonic Technologies in Xi`an, China.
