A groundbreaking study published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces has introduced a novel type of dental floss that does more than just clean between your teeth — it can also monitor your stress levels. According to researchers, this smart floss detects cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, in saliva.
How It Works
To begin with, the dental floss incorporates a flexible electrochemical sensor embedded with a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP), which is specifically engineered to bind cortisol molecules. As you floss, the device collects saliva and directs it via thread-based microfluidics to the sensor.
Importantly, the sensor is capable of analyzing cortisol levels in real-time, with results available in just around 10 minutes.
Performance and Accuracy
Furthermore, the device has demonstrated remarkable sensitivity. In lab conditions, it detected cortisol levels ranging from 0.10 to 10,000 pg/mL, with a detection limit as low as 0.023 pg/mL. When tested with real human saliva, the floss’s readings were strongly correlated (r = 0.9910) with results from traditional ELISA testing methods.
This high correlation confirms the device’s accuracy and reliability, making it a credible alternative for at-home cortisol monitoring.
Future Applications
Looking ahead, the researchers believe this technology could be expanded to monitor other health biomarkers found in saliva. Consequently, it could assist in early diagnosis of a variety of medical conditions.
Moreover, its non-invasive nature and user-friendly design position it as a potential game-changer for routine health assessments at home
Conclusion
In summary, this smart dental floss marks a significant advancement in personal health technology. It links everyday flossing with real-time stress monitoring for a simple health check. Ultimately, this innovation could help bring healthcare closer to home—one floss at a time.
