Carbon nanotube structures in sensor apparatuses for analyzing biomarkers in breath samples

A system for detecting volatile organic compounds derived from a breath sample, the system comprising:

• (a) an apparatus comprising an array of chemically sensitive sensors of single walled carbon nanotubes coated with non-polymeric, non-polar small organic molecules, wherein the organic molecules comprise functional groups selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl, alkylaryl, alkylalkenyl, alkylalkynyl, alkylcycloalkyl, alkylheterocyclyl, and alkylheteroaryl groups, and combinations thereof, wherein the functional groups are unsubstituted or substituted by at least one of a carboxyl, an acyl, an amido, an ester, a nitro, an azido, a halogen, a hydroxyl or a haloalkyl moiety;
• and
• (b) a processing unit comprising a learning and pattern recognition analyzer wherein the learning and pattern recognition analyzer receives sensor output signals from the apparatus and compares them to stored data.