New Delhi, 25 May (IANS). American engineers have developed a common device using a particularly designed dental floss that can easily measure stress -causing hormone cortisol.
Chronic stress can lead to increased blood pressure and heart disease, decrease in immune function, depression and anxiety.
This study has been published in the Journal of ACS Applied Materials and Interface. Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Sameer Sonkusale gave information about this device. “It started in collaboration with several departments of Tufts University. Stress and other connect problems affect the solution and learning ability,” said.
He further said, “We did not want measurement to create an additional source of stress, so we thought, can we create a sensing device that becomes part of your day-to-day routine? Cortisol is a stress marker found in saliva, so Flossing is a natural option to take a daily sample.”
His design of salivary-sensitive dental floss looks similar to a common floss pick, which has two sharp stunned cords from a flat plastic handle, which is your index-shaped shape.
In the floss, saliva is picked through a very narrow channel.
The fluid is drawn into a pick handle and an enclosed tab, where it spreads into the electrode that detects cortisol.
Cortisol on the electrode is identified with a remarkable technique developed about 30 years ago, which is called electropolymerized molecular impregnated polymer (EMIP).
EMIP molds can be used in many more ways. Any dental floss sensor can be made that can detect other molecules found in saliva, such as estrogen, marker for glucose or cancer for monitoring of estrogen, diabetes to monitor fertility.
Researchers said that there is also a possibility of detecting several biomarkers in saliva at the same time for more accurate monitoring of stress, heart disease, cancer and other conditions.
The accuracy of cortisol sensors is equal to the best performing sensors in the market or under development.
People can use this device at home and without any training.
Currently, Sonkusale and their colleagues are creating a startup to bring this product to the market.
-IANS
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