title: A fiber optic biosensor (FOBS) to monitor mutans streptococci in human saliva.
abstract: A fiber optic biosensor (FOBS) to monitor mutans streptococci activity in human saliva is developed. The biosensor utilizes e fiber optic evanescent wave spectroscopy to monitor a bacterial mediated biochemical reaction. To achieve this, a short length of the cladding is removed; the fiber core surface is treated and coated with a thin film of porous glass medium using sol-gel technique. The mutans streptococci mediated reaction with sucrose is monitored using a photosensitive indicator, which is immobilized within the porous glass coating. Spectroscopic analysis shows that the transmitted intensity at 597 nm increases conspicuously when monitored for 120 min. Two distinct phases are observed, one from 0 to 60 min and the other from 60 to 120 min. A negative correlation coefficient between the rate of increase in absorption peak intensity recorded by the FOBS and the decrease in pH measured using the pH meter, was calculated to be rho=-0.994. This investigation highlights the potential benefits of this sensor to monitor mutans streptococci activity in saliva.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Engineering Research Center, Nanyang Avenue, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore. ckishen@ntu.edu.sg
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kishen
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: John
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Asundi
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D055100:Optical Fibers; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005947:Glucose