Everyday it seems there is a new use for graphene. Today’s uses is in tooth tattooing to prevent bacterial accumulation and tooth decay:
The sensor is made of graphene and can detect bacteria in our mouths to the single-cell level, according to researchers at Princeton and Tufts universities. Michael McAlpine and colleagues developed a method to print graphene nanosensors onto a silk substrate. They added electrodes and an inductive coil to power the device, which can then be transferred onto teeth or other biological materials.
The graphene is then doped with naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides, which bind to bacteria and can be used as a bug detection system. The result is a battery-free, wireless sensing device that can pinpoint exactly which type of bacteria is present in a person’s mouth. Because it’s imprinted onto silk, the detector has elastic properties, so it could also be integrated onto soft tissues, too, not just tooth enamel. To test it, McAlpine and colleagues grafted it onto a raw chicken breast.
More studies are still needed to see how long the antibacterial properties might last in a person’s mouth, especially for people who brush their teeth regularly. Hospitals are also hoping it can help in warding off multi-drug resistant bacteria.
Read the study in Nature Communications here. Abstract available for non-subscribers.