Cavitas electrochemical sensor toward detection of N-epsilon (carboxymethyl)lysine in oral cavity

Advanced glycated end markers are involved in oxidative stress by producing long-term damage to proteins in ageing processes, atherosclerosis, and diabetes. The present work describes a cavitas printed electrochemical sensor for the direct salivary detection of N-(sic)(Carboxymethyl)lysine, a major advanced glycated end compound. The highly flexible and bendable sensor is integrated on a customized mouthguard placed on a phantom jaw that imitated the structure of the human oral cavity. The disposable sensor is readily attached on the mouthguard before usage and detached after the electrochemical investigation. Thus, it can be replaced whenever required. The sensor exhibits high selectivity and sensitivity in the phosphate buffer with a limit of detection of 166 ng/ml (equivalent to 0.81 mu M) (over a range of 0.5- 2500 mu g/ml (equivalent to 2.45 mu M-12.24 mM) N-(sic)(Carboxymethyl)lysine by employing a differential pulse voltammetry analytical procedure. Moreover, the cavitas sensor was tested in raw, untreated human saliva, and promising recoveries were obtained. The cost advantages of the printing technique, short timescale of the measurements, long storage stability and ease of use are attractive properties of the new mouthguard sensor. This non-invasive oral sensor for salivary N-(sic)(Carboxymethyl)lysine monitoring could potentially provide useful real-time information regarding a wearer's health condition, and thus, it holds considerable promise for the improved management of chronic diseases.