[Research Progress and Application Prospects of Saliva-Based Point-of-Care Testing Technologies]

Saliva, as a biological sample capable of reflecting the physiological and pathological status of the body, holds significant application value in disease screening and monitoring due to its advantages such as ease of collection, safety, and non-invasiveness. To promote its efficient use in clinical practice, the development of point-of-care testing (POCT) technologies for saliva is key to providing rapid, accurate, and cost-effective diagnostic solutions. In light of this, this article systematically reviews the latest advances in POCT technologies for salivary biomarkers, covering a variety of methods including dry chemistry, immunochromatography, chemiluminescence, electrochemistry, quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), microfluidics, biochips, molecular diagnostics, and artificial intelligence-assisted diagnostics. It focuses on representative technologies and products that are either commercially available or have translational potential, delving into their technical principles, design concepts, performance metrics, and application scenarios. Finally, the article summarizes the key challenges and future opportunities facing saliva POCT technologies in the process of clinical translation, aiming to provide academic support for their further research advancement and industrial development.