In Search of Spectroscopic Signatures of Periodontitis: A SERS-Based Magnetomicrofluidic Sensor for Detection of and .

Recently, , the keystone pathogen implicated in the development of gum disease (periodontitis), was detected in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients, opening up a fascinating possibility that it is also involved in the pathobiology of this neurodegenerative illness. To verify this hypothesis, an unbiased, specific, and sensitive method to detect this pathogen in biological specimens is needed. To this end, our interdisciplinary studies demonstrate that can be easily identified by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Moreover, based on SERS measurements, can be distinguished from another common periodontal pathogen, , and also from ubiquitous oral spp. The results were confirmed by principal component analysis (PCA). Furthermore, we have shown that different and strains can easily adsorb to silver-coated magnetic nanoparticles (FeO@AgNPs). Thus, it is possible to magnetically separate investigated bacteria from other components of a specimen using the microfluidic chip. To obtain additional enhancement of the Raman signal, the NPs adsorbed to bacterial cells were magnetically attracted to the Si/Ag SERS platform. Afterward, the SERS spectra could be recorded. Such a time-saving procedure can be very helpful in rapid medical diagnostics and thus in starting the appropriate pharmacological therapy to prevent the development of periodontitis and associated comorbidities, e.g., Alzheimer's disease.