College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
West China School/Hospital of Stomatology, Department of Periodontics, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Mater Horiz. 2024 Jan 22;11(2):519-530. doi: 10.1039/d3mh01563g.
Oral pathogens can produce volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), which is the main reason for halitosis and indicates the risk of periodontitis. High-sensitivity detection of exhaled VSCs is urgently desired for promoting the point-of-care testing (POCT) of halitosis and screening of periodontitis. However, current detection methods often require bulky and costly instruments, as well as professional training, making them impractical for widespread detection. Here, a structural color hydrogel for naked-eye detection of exhaled VSCs is presented. VSCs can reduce disulfide bonds within the network, leading to expansion of the hydrogel and thus change of the structural color. A linear detection range of 0-1 ppm with a detection limit of 61 ppb can be achieved, covering the typical VSC concentration in the breath of patients with periodontitis. Furthermore, visual and monitoring of responsible for periodontitis can be realized. By integrating the hydrogels into a sensor array, the oral health conditions of patients with halitosis can be evaluated and distinguished, offering risk assessment of periodontitis. Combined with a smartphone capable of color analysis, POCT of VSCs can be achieved, providing an approach for the monitoring of halitosis and screening of periodontitis.
口腔病原体可以产生挥发性硫化合物（VSCs），这是口臭的主要原因，并表明牙周炎的风险。对于促进口臭的即时检测（POCT）和牙周炎的筛查，非常需要对呼出的 VSCs 进行高灵敏度检测。然而，目前的检测方法通常需要体积庞大且昂贵的仪器以及专业培训，因此不适合广泛检测。本文提出了一种用于检测呼出 VSCs 的结构色水凝胶。VSCs 可以还原网络中的二硫键，导致水凝胶膨胀，从而改变结构颜色。可以实现 0-1 ppm 的线性检测范围和 61 ppb 的检测限，涵盖了牙周炎患者呼吸中典型的 VSC 浓度。此外，可以实现对负责牙周炎的 VSCs 的可视化和监测。通过将水凝胶集成到传感器阵列中，可以评估和区分口臭患者的口腔健康状况，为牙周炎的风险评估提供依据。结合能够进行颜色分析的智能手机，即可实现 VSCs 的 POCT，为口臭的监测和牙周炎的筛查提供了一种方法。
