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Scientists Discover Way to Send Information into Black Holes Without Using Energy

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This Wearable Patch Could Detect Gum Problems Before Tooth Damage Starts

Gum disease is one of the most common oral health problems worldwide, yet early detection has long remained a challenge. Traditionally, dentists rely on visual inspections and probing during routine checkups to identify signs of inflammation. By the time a problem is spotted, tissue damage may already have begun. But now, researchers at Texas A&M University have developed a groundbreaking solution: a wearable, tissue-adhesive biosensor that can detect inflammation biomarkers in the mouth with incredible precision—potentially shifting oral health care from reactive treatment to proactive prevention.

A Smart Patch for Oral Health

The team, led by Dr. Chenglin Wu, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, has engineered a multi-layer patch that sticks to oral tissues and works reliably in the wet, dynamic environment of the mouth. This biosensor can remain in place while a person talks, eats, or drinks. Its primary target is a protein called tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-⍺), a biomarker that signals inflammation and is often elevated during gum disease or oral infections.

Published in the journal Science Advances, the research demonstrates how advanced materials and smart design can create wearable devices capable of monitoring health at the molecular level.

Precision Detection with Advanced Materials

At the heart of the patch lies a graphene-MXene sensing layer. This layer is highly conductive and coated with molecular probes that selectively bind to TNF-⍺. When the target protein attaches, the sensor detects tiny changes in electrical charge. This method allows detection at the femtogram-per-milliliter (fg/mL) level—a sensitivity level that is orders of magnitude finer than most current diagnostic tests.

To put this into perspective, Dr. Wu explained, “A patient with a viral infection might show symptoms at 10 million to 1 billion virus copies per milliliter. Our sensor can detect as few as 100 to 150 molecules per milliliter.” The team successfully measured TNF-⍺ at 18.2 fg/mL. For context, one quadrillion femtograms—a 1 followed by 15 zeros—equals just 1 gram. Detecting molecules at this scale requires both high sensitivity and selectivity, which the patch achieves through its carefully designed layers.

Dynamic Tissue Adhesion for Accurate Sensing

Maintaining reliable contact with moving oral tissues is a critical challenge for any wearable oral sensor. To address this, the patch uses a tissue-adhesive hydrogel layer developed in collaboration with Dr. Shaoting Lin, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Michigan State University. This hydrogel forms a strong bond with oral tissue, minimizing interference from natural movements like talking or chewing.

“The movement of tissues can significantly affect sensing measurements,” Lin explained. “A robust tissue bond ensures that the sensing layer works accurately, independent of strain or motion.”

On top of this adhesive layer, the patch incorporates a selective-permeable hydrogel. This layer acts as a molecular sieve, allowing only proteins of a certain size—like TNF-⍺—to reach the sensor while blocking unwanted molecules. The combination of selective permeability and highly specific probes results in precise detection even in the complex environment of the mouth.

Testing in Animal Models

To validate the patch, the team collaborated with Dr. Jeffrey Cirillo, a Regents’ Professor at Texas A&M’s College of Medicine, who specializes in microbial pathogenesis and immunology. The researchers tested the patch on guinea pigs, which share many physiological characteristics with humans, particularly in oral tissue responses to inflammation.

“The TNF-⍺ protein is a cytokine almost always involved in soft tissue inflammation,” Cirillo said. “Our goal was to see if this system could allow rapid, point-of-care detection.”

The study demonstrated that the patch could accurately detect TNF-⍺ in vivo, providing a promising proof of concept. Dr. Hajime Sasaki, an associate professor of dentistry at the University of Michigan, also contributed expertise on dental biomarkers and oral health, highlighting the clinical relevance of detecting TNF-⍺ early.

A Shift Toward Preventive Oral Care

Oral infections and gum disease are not just local problems—they can contribute to systemic health issues, including heart disease, diabetes, and other inflammatory conditions. Early detection is critical for preventing tissue damage and halting the progression of disease.

With this biosensor, patients could potentially monitor oral inflammation continuously, receiving alerts before visible symptoms or discomfort appear. This represents a major shift from traditional reactive dental care toward proactive, personalized health management.

Potential for Broader Applications

While the current focus is on oral health and TNF-⍺ detection, the materials and design of the patch are versatile. Researchers believe similar biosensors could be adapted to detect different biomarkers in other parts of the body. By engineering specific hydrogel layers and probes, future devices could monitor a wide range of health indicators, from inflammation in joints to early signs of infection elsewhere in the body.

“This is just the beginning,” Dr. Wu noted. “We’re exploring how these materials can be customized to detect different molecules for various medical applications. The flexibility of the hydrogel-MXene system makes it a promising platform for next-generation biosensors.”

Looking Ahead

The animal study successfully proved the concept, but further research is needed before the patch becomes widely available for human use. Clinical trials will be the next step, evaluating safety, effectiveness, and usability in real-world scenarios.

The development of this wearable biosensor aligns with a broader trend in healthcare: shifting from reactive treatment to early detection and prevention. Devices like this could revolutionize how we monitor our health, catching problems before they manifest and enabling more timely interventions.

Conclusion

Texas A&M University’s tissue-adhesive biosensor represents a significant advancement in oral health technology. By combining a highly sensitive graphene-MXene sensing layer with a robust, selective hydrogel, researchers have created a patch capable of detecting molecular signs of gum disease with unprecedented precision.

Early detection of TNF-⍺ and other biomarkers could transform oral healthcare, allowing interventions before tissue damage occurs and reducing the risk of severe infections or systemic complications. Beyond dental applications, this platform holds promise for a wide array of wearable health-monitoring technologies, paving the way for a future where proactive, personalized care becomes the norm rather than the exception.

As this technology progresses to clinical trials and eventual human use, it may redefine how we understand and manage oral health, turning a simple patch into a powerful tool for disease prevention and overall well-being.

Reference: Tsz Hung Wong et al, Tissue-adhesive hydrogel–MXene biosensor for in situ intraoral TNF-α detection, Science Advances (2026). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ady9180

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