The Oral Fluid MEMS/NEMS Chip (OFMNC): diagnostic and translational applications

Adv Dent Res. 2005 Jun;18(1):3-5. doi: 10.1177/154407370501800102.

Abstract

The ability to monitor health status, disease onset and progression, and treatment outcome through non-invasive means is a most desirable goal in health-care promotion and delivery. There are three prerequisites for this goal to be realized: specific biomarkers associated with a health or disease state, a non-invasive approach to detect and monitor the biomarkers, and the technologies to discriminate between and among the biomarkers. We present a roadmap to achieve these goals using oral fluids as the diagnostic medium to scrutinize the health and/or disease status of individuals. This is an ideal opportunity to bridge state-of-the-art micro-/nano-electromechanical system (MEMS/NEMS) sensors to oral fluid for diagnostic applications. As the "mirror of body", oral fluid is a perfect medium to be explored for health and disease surveillance. The translational applications and opportunities are enormous.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers*
  • Biosensing Techniques
  • Diagnosis, Oral / methods*
  • Humans
  • Microchip Analytical Procedures*
  • Nanotechnology
  • Protein Biosynthesis
  • Proteomics
  • RNA / analysis
  • Saliva / chemistry*
  • Saliva / metabolism
  • Salivary Proteins and Peptides / analysis*
  • Salivary Proteins and Peptides / biosynthesis

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Salivary Proteins and Peptides
  • RNA