Progress on the analytical methodology for biological volatile organic compounds

Abstract

Biological terminal metabolites are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with strong volatility, containing important bio-information related with biological metabolism. As a crucial research precondition, analytical methodology for biological VOCs has attracted much attention to achieve the adequate composition information of biological VOCs at different physiological status and metabolism phases. In this article, the analytical methodology for biological VOCs is summarized, focusing on the latest advances on sampling and analytical techniques followed by the preliminary application of distilling potential, but crucial, bio-information. Systematic study of the relationship among biological VOCs, biological VOC characteristics and corresponding biomarkers would result in a potential but promising research field, bioodoromics. The concept of bioodoromics is described, and the developing trend of bioodoromics in the future is proposed in this paper. It is believed that bioodoromics possesses the power to describe potential but crucial bio-information related with metabolism pathway. The study of biological VOCs and potential bioodoromics would facilitate relevant fields such as insect prevention, disease diagnosis, criminal track-down, agricultural product quality control and food safety, etc.