MIT researchers are developing a breath test called Plasmo Sniff that could diagnose pneumonia and other lung conditions in minutes. The portable, chip-scale sensor works by trapping biomarkers—synthetic compounds that indicate disease. A person would breathe in specially designed nanoparticles that attach to these biomarkers, then exhale them for detection.

The nanoparticles are engineered to detach only when they encounter specific enzymes produced during infection. Professor Sangeeta Bhatia's lab previously demonstrated this approach in mice in 2020, but required laboratory-grade equipment. Now, Loza Tadesse and her team have advanced the technology using enhanced Raman spectroscopy to detect biomarkers at extremely low concentrations.

Unlike earlier prototypes, this new version uses optical techniques where molecules are illuminated with light. The researchers plan to integrate the sensor into a handheld device suitable for clinical settings or home use. According to MIT postdoc Aditya Garg, patients would inhale nanoparticles and exhale a synthetic biomarker within about 10 minutes, providing immediate lung status information.

Beyond medical applications, Plasmo Sniff could detect industrial chemicals and airborne pollutants. This dual-purpose capability makes the technology attractive for both healthcare and environmental monitoring markets. The system represents a significant step toward rapid, non-invasive disease diagnosis.