Floss Your Way to Stress Detection: New Device Offers Real-Time Insights

Simple Daily Routine Could Revolutionize Mental Health Monitoring

A groundbreaking new tool promises to make tracking stress levels as easy as flossing. Researchers have developed a modified dental floss device capable of detecting cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, directly from saliva in real time.

A Novel Approach to Biomarker Sensing

The innovative device, created by a team at Tufts University, offers a potentially inexpensive and user-friendly alternative to traditional stress assessment methods, which often rely on subjective questionnaires or costly clinical evaluations. We didn’t want to create an additional source of stress, so we thought, ‘can we make a sensing device that becomes part of your day-to-day routine?’ explained Sameer Sonkusale, a professor of electrical and computer engineering and lead researcher on the project.

Chronic stress is a significant public health concern, with approximately 77% of Americans reporting experiencing physical symptoms caused by stress, according to the American Psychological Association’s 2023 Stress in America survey (APA, 2023). Prolonged exposure can contribute to a range of health problems, including hypertension, immune suppression, and increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

How the Floss Sensor Works

The device resembles a standard plastic floss pick, but contains built-in electronics within the handle. As a person flosses, saliva is drawn up through the floss via capillary action, traveling into the handle and across a sensor tab. Electrodes embedded in the tab then detect the presence and concentration of cortisol.

The core of the technology lies in a process called electropolymerized molecularly imprinted polymers, or eMIPs. Sonkusale described how eMIPs function, The eMIP approach is a game changer. Biosensors have typically been developed using antibodies or other receptors that pick up the molecule of interest. Once a marker is found, a lot of work has to go into bioengineering the receiving molecule attached to the sensor.

Unlike traditional biosensors, eMIPs don’t require extensive antibody development. Researchers create a polymer mold around the target molecule—in this case, cortisol—then remove the molecule, leaving an imprint that selectively binds to cortisol in future samples.

Beyond Cortisol: A Versatile Platform

The modular design and eMIP system allow the floss sensor to be adapted for detecting a variety of biomarkers, not just cortisol. Potential applications include tracking glucose levels for diabetes management, monitoring estrogen for fertility purposes, or detecting molecules associated with cardiovascular health, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Researchers envision a future where a single floss sensor could simultaneously detect multiple biomarkers, providing a comprehensive overview of a person’s health. While still under development, the sensor has demonstrated accuracy comparable to existing stress-detection tools.

The study, published in ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, emphasizes that the tool is best suited for ongoing monitoring rather than initial diagnoses. For diagnostics, blood is still the gold standard, but once you are diagnosed and put on medication, if you need to track, say, a cardiovascular condition over time, then monitoring with the sensor can be easy and allows for timely interventions when needed, Sonkusale noted.

The Tufts team is currently working to commercialize the technology through a startup, aiming to make it available for both home and clinical use. This innovation could pave the way for more personalized and proactive health management, offering individuals a simple and convenient way to monitor their stress levels and overall well-being.