A team led by an interdisciplinary engineer at Tufts University has developed a novel cortisol-detecting dental floss, offering a more affordable, accurate, and practical way to monitor stress, the Massachusetts-based university recently announced.
Research has long shown that chronic stress negatively impacts overall health, increasing the risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, depression, anxiety, and weakening the immune system.
Many people also report feeling stressed. A 2024 global survey by Ipsos found that 62% of people across 31 countries felt stressed to the point it affected their daily lives at least once. Stress levels ranged from 76% in Türkiye to 44% in Japan, with women (66%) reporting higher stress than men (58%).
eMIPs technology developed 30 years ago
While this new cortisol-detecting tool resembles a common dental floss pick, it originated from a collaboration among several Tufts departments studying how stress and cognitive states affect learning and problem-solving. Its core innovation lies in a technology developed nearly three decades ago: electropolymerized molecularly imprinted polymers (eMIPs).
“The eMIP approach is a game changer,” said Sameer Sonkusale, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Tufts.
You can also read: The Effects of Stress on Oral and Systemic Health
So how does eMIP work? Tufts explains that the process is similar to making a plaster cast of a hand. A polymer forms around a template molecule—cortisol, in this case—which is then removed, leaving behind binding sites. These sites retain a physical and chemical “memory” of the target molecule, allowing them to bind to free-floating cortisol molecules in saliva.
Traditional biosensors often rely on antibodies or engineered receptors to detect specific molecules. Sonkusale noted that eMIPs offer a faster, more cost-effective alternative:
“eMIP does not require significant investment in developing antibodies or receptors. If a new stress marker or disease biomarker is discovered, a polymer cast can be created quickly.”
The eMIP molds can also be adapted to detect other molecules in saliva, such as estrogen (for fertility tracking), glucose (for diabetes monitoring), or cancer markers. Tufts researchers also see potential for detecting multiple biomarkers simultaneously, enabling more comprehensive monitoring of stress, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other conditions.
Also read: Saliva diagnostics: Pioneering the future of dentistry and medicine
Also read: Salivary Biomarkers: A New Horizon in Clinical Dentistry
Monitoring, not diagnosis
Sonkusale emphasized that the floss sensor is intended for monitoring, not diagnosis. It aims to move beyond traditional self-reporting questionnaires and psychiatric evaluations, which can be subjective and inconsistent.
“For diagnostics, blood is still the gold standard,” he said. “But once diagnosed and on medication, if you need to track a condition like cardiovascular disease over time, this sensor offers a convenient way to monitor progress and enable timely interventions.”
Sonkusale and his team are currently working on launching a startup to bring this innovative product to market and make stress monitoring accessible to the public.