What Did the Research Discover?
Scientists developed a new type of glucose sensor called a BioTFT (Biosensing Thin-Film Transistor) that can detect glucose in saliva instead of blood. This technology is non-invasive, meaning it does not require a blood sample, and it provides results in less than 60 seconds.
The BioTFT sensor was created using a combination of two metal oxides (In₂O₃/ZnO) and an enzyme called glucose oxidase. The enzyme binds to glucose in saliva, which causes an electrical change that the sensor can detect.
Because of its special design, the BioTFT can detect even very small amounts of glucose.
The study tested the BioTFT in both artificial saliva (lab-created) and real human saliva.
The sensor successfully measured glucose levels in a wide range from 500 nanomolar (nM) to 20 millimolar (mM). It was able to detect tiny amounts of glucose, as low as 365 picomolar (pM) in artificial saliva and 416 nM in real saliva.
The device also showed that it could specifically detect glucose, even when other substances were present in saliva.
This means the sensor is highly selective and is not easily affected by other chemicals in the mouth. Additionally, the sensor remained stable for up to two weeks, continuing to work reliably during that time.
How Can I Apply This Information?
This research suggests that in the future, people with diabetes may be able to check their glucose levels using saliva instead of pricking their fingers.
Right now, people with diabetes often have to test their blood sugar multiple times a day by drawing blood from their fingers, which can be painful and inconvenient.
A saliva-based glucose test would be much easier and painless, making glucose monitoring more comfortable.
Although this study shows promising results, it is still in the research phase. More testing is needed to ensure that the BioTFT is accurate, reliable, and ready for everyday use.
If further studies confirm its effectiveness, this technology could be used for home glucose monitoring or in doctor’s offices for quick and easy glucose testing.
Beyond glucose detection, the researchers suggest that this non-invasive biosensor technology could be adapted to detect other substances in saliva, such as hormones, bacteria, viruses, or disease markers. This could lead to new medical tools for diagnosing and monitoring a variety of health conditions without the need for blood tests.
Source:
Sharma A, AlGhamdi WS, Faber H, Lin YH, Liu CH, Hsu EK, Lin WZ, Naphade D, Mandal S, Heeney M, Anthopoulos TD. Non-invasive, ultrasensitive detection of glucose in saliva using metal oxide transistors. Biosensors and Bioelectronics. 2023 Oct 1;237:115448. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37348190/
