# Exhaled breath drug detection using differential mobility spectrometry

> **NIH NIH R42** · VOX BIOMEDICAL LLC · 2022 · $480,900

## Abstract

Project Summary
This proposed Phase I/Phase II FastTrack STTR project is intended to lead to the demonstration of a
breathalyzer instrument capable of detecting and quantitatively measuring drugs (i.e. cannabinoids and opioids)
in exhaled breath (EB). Prior work on the detection of these drugs in EB by means of liquid chromatography and
mass spectrometry (LC/MS) demonstrated that these compounds can be quantitatively detected, but LC/MS is
slow, expensive and requires highly skilled personnel to implement. What is needed is a simple and inexpensive
method for rapidly measuring the amount of drugs in EB. If such a method becomes available it can be used by
law enforcement and in doctors' offices, hospital emergency rooms, ambulances and companies seeking to
screen employees for drug abuse.
N2 Biomedical proposes to develop a method for quantitatively detecting the presence of drugs in EB by means
of Differential Mobility Spectrometry (DMS) developed at Draper Laboratories. DMS is a robust, data-rich, ultra-
trace, chemical detection technology that has been proven for numerous applications including air quality cabin
monitoring on the International Space Station, chemical warfare agent detection, explosives detection, and
drinking water analysis. Recently Draper has applied this device to breath analysis for the detection of lung
diseases. A clinical study is currently underway and initial results are promising. This project involves transferring
technology developed by Draper for lung infection detection to the detection of psychoactive drugs in exhaled
breath.
Phase I of the proposed program will investigate the DMS signatures of cannabinoids in the laboratory and define
the DMS device’s limits of detection. A small pilot study will also be performed to demonstrate feasibility for using
breath analysis as a proxy for the concentration of cannabinoids in the blood. During Phase II DMS signatures
of the opioids morphine and fentanyl will be characterized and a 50 subject clinical trial will be performed to
obtain breath/blood concentration correlations for THC (cannabinoid), morphine and fentanyl and also to levels
of impairment. A plan for bringing this device to market will be implemented based on feedback obtained from
local law enforcement obtained throughout the course of the program and an FDA regulatory strategy will be
identified. Successful completion of this project will demonstrate that this DMS device can be used as a rapid,
non-invasive broad spectrum drug detection tool for law enforcement as well as emergency medical personnel.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10437033
- **Project number:** 5R42DA049655-04
- **Recipient organization:** VOX BIOMEDICAL LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** Jacob Golde
- **Activity code:** R42 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $480,900
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-01 → 2024-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10437033

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10437033, Exhaled breath drug detection using differential mobility spectrometry (5R42DA049655-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10437033. Licensed CC0.

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