An optimization protocol of the volatile organic compounds analysis in earwax samples for untargeted volatilomics.

Recent studies have highlighted the potential of earwax or cerumen, a non-conventional biomatrix, in volatilomics research as a valuable matrix for disease biomarker discovery. Despite that, there are still gaps in using non-conventional biomatrices in metabolomics research. In this sense, this study aimed to elucidate the main analytical factors involved in the extraction and analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in cerumen by headspace/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS/GC-MS) using Design of Experiments (DoE) approaches.