Development of a Microfluidic Paper-Based Analytical Device for Myeloperoxidase Detection in Periodontitis.

Area of Science:

• Biomarker detection
• Point-of-care diagnostics
• Microfluidics and Lab-on-a-Chip technology

Background:

• Periodontal disease is a common inflammatory condition.
• Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is a biomarker associated with inflammation and periodontal disease.
• Accurate and accessible diagnostic tools are needed for early detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPAD).
• To detect myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels in saliva.
• To differentiate between healthy individuals and those with periodontal disease.

Main Methods:

• A μPAD platform was fabricated on chromatography paper.
• Saliva samples were collected from healthy (H) and periodontal disease (PD) groups.
• Three chromophore substrates (Guaiacol, Guaiacol/DAB, TMB) were tested for MPO detection.

Main Results:

• The μPAD successfully detected MPO in saliva samples.
• The TMB chromophore showed faster reactions and better color differentiation.
• Detectable MPO levels were higher in the PD group (28.9 ± 12.8 ng/mL) than the H group (21.2 ± 10.4 ng/mL).

Conclusions:

• The developed μPAD is a viable platform for salivary MPO detection.
• The TMB-associated protocol shows potential for rapid periodontal disease assessment.
• Further research with diverse biomarkers is recommended to explore the diagnostic utility of this platform.