Tufts University Develops Smart Dental Floss for Stress Detection

Researchers at Tufts University have created a dental floss embedded with sensors capable of detecting cortisol levels in saliva. The smart floss, using FDA-approved suture thread, microfluidic channels, and electrochemical sensors, can identify cortisol levels as low as 0.048 picograms per milliliter. Testing involved artificial and real human saliva samples, with results available within 11-12 minutes. The floss sensor showed a high correlation with traditional lab tests, indicating precise cortisol detection. While still in prototype stage, the device aims to provide real-time stress monitoring without invasive procedures. Future adaptations may expand its use for detecting other health biomarkers. The study was published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, with funding from the National Science Foundation and no reported financial conflicts of interest.(Studyfinds)