Table 2 |.
Comparison of chiral detection techniques
| Method | Limit of detection | Sample quantity | Clinical sample type | Number of measurable metabolites per run | Cost | Diseases | Level of development |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chromatography152,177–179,185,189,286,287 | 100 pM (refs.185,287) | 10 μl-100 ml | Serum, plasma, urine, CSF, saliva, tissue | 1–20 | Medium | Cancer, brain diseases, kidney disease, diabetes | Well developed |
| Capillary electrophoresis139,192–195,288 | 5nM (refs.193–288) | 100 nl-1 ml | Serum, plasma, urine, glial vesicles, tissue | 1–20 | Low | Brain diseases | Well developed |
| NMR spectroscopy200–202,204 | 10 nM (refs.202,204) | 10 μl-100 ml | Urine | 1–20 | High | Brain diseases | Under development |
| Enzymatic assay21,205–208 | 200 nM (ref.289) | 10 μl-10 ml | Serum, CSF, plasma, urine, saliva, tissue | 1 | Low | Cancer, brain diseases, kidney disease, diabetes | Well developed |
| Polarimetry142–144,214 | 1 mM (refs.143,214) | 10 ml | Blood | 1 | Low | Diabetes | Under development |
| CD spectroscopy145,217 | 5 μM (refs.145,217) | 100 μl-100 ml | CSF, tissue | 1 | Low | Brain diseases | Under development |
| ROA spectroscopy222–226 | 0.2 mM (ref.226) | 100 μl-100 ml | – | 1 | Medium | – | Under development |
| VCD spectroscopy227–230 | 5 mM (ref.230) | 100 μl-100 ml | – | 1 | Medium | – | Under development |
| Surface-enhanced CD spectroscopy233–236,240,244 | 20 pM (refs.240,244) | 10 μl-100 μl | Tissue, urine | 1 | Low | Brain diseases, diabetes | Under development |
| Surface-enhanced ROA spectroscopy245,246 | 100 nM (ref.246) | 10 μl-1 ml | – | 1 | Low | – | Under development |
CD, circular dichroism; CSF, cerebrospinal fluid; NMR, nuclear magnetic resonance; ROA, Raman optical activity; VCD, vibrational circular dichroism.