A salivary biomarker panel to detect liver cirrhosis

Evaluation of Salivary Diagnostics: Applications, Benefits, Challenges, and Future Prospects in Dental and Systemic Disease Detection

Saliva is a multifaceted biological fluid that plays a pivotal role in oral health and overall well-being. It is primarily produced by major salivary glands, with additional contributions from minor glands. Saliva is essential for various physiological functions, including oral lubrication, digestion, and defense against pathogens. Its intricate composition comprises proteins, electrolytes, enzymes, hormones, and microbial DNA, enabling it to act as a dynamic indicator of both local and systemic health. A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar to identify relevant studies published up to June 2024. The included studies involved human participants and provided original data or comprehensive reviews on salivary biomarkers. The findings indicate that salivary diagnostics show promise in diagnosing and monitoring systemic conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, with salivary glucose levels correlating well with blood glucose levels. Biomarkers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) have been linked to cardiovascular risk, while saliva has been explored for cancer detection, including pancreatic and prostate cancers. Advances in techniques such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), saliva omics, and single-cell sequencing have furthered salivary diagnostics, providing insights into disease mechanisms. Additionally, quantitative mass spectrometry (qMS) and Raman spectroscopy (RS) contribute to non-invasive diagnostics for various conditions, including cancer. Collecting saliva samples from healthy individuals is crucial for early disease detection and evaluating treatment efficacy. This review underscores the growing importance of salivary tests in dental practice and their potential for diagnosing various health conditions. Further research is essential to address challenges related to variability and standardization. Dentists and healthcare professionals should consider incorporating salivary tests into clinical decision-making to enhance patient outcomes.

Paper electrochemical immunosensor for the rapid screening of Galectin-3 patients with heart failure

A paper electrochemical immunosensor for the combined binding and quantification of the heart failure (HF) biomarker Galectin-3 has been developed. The simple design of the new sensor is comprised of paper material that is decorated with gold nanostructures, to maximize its electroactive surface area, and functionalized with target-specific recognition molecules to selectively bind the protein from aqueous solutions. The binding of the protein caused the blockage of the electron flow to the sensor electroactive surface, thus causing its oxidation potential to shift and the corresponding current to reduce quantitatively with the increase in the protein concentration within the working range of 0.5ng/mL-8ng/mL (LOQ-0.5 ng/mL). This novel sensor was able to quantify Galectin-3 concentration in saliva samples from HF patients and healthy controls within 20 min with good reproducibility (RSD = 3.64%), without the need for complex sample processing steps. The electrochemical measurements of the patient samples were cross validated by ELISA where the percent agreement between the two methods was found to be 92.7% (RSD = 7.20%). Therefore, the new paper immunosensor sensor has a strong potential for rapid and cost-effective screening of the Galectin 3 biomarker at points of care, thus supporting the timely diagnosis of heart failure.