Characterization of saliva through FT-IR spectroscopy in healthy controls

• Grant number: 25/04200-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2025
• End date: April 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry
• Principal Investigator: Luis Felipe das Chagas e Silva de Carvalho
• Grantee: Sara Janet dos Santos Michalopoulos
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação. Universidade de Taubaté (UNITAU). Taubaté , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/21827-1 - Vibrational spectroscopic analysis of saliva: an innovative approach to real time investigation, AP.JP

Abstract

Vibrational spectroscopic analysis of saliva has been investigated as a promising tool for the early diagnosis of oral cancer. Saliva, an easily accessible and minimally invasive biofluid, exhibits characteristic vibrational bands reflecting its biomolecular composition, making spectroscopic techniques such as FT-IR and Raman potentially useful for detecting disease patterns and monitoring tumor activity. This study analyzed saliva samples from smokers and former smokers, classifying them into subgroups based on their tobacco exposure time. FT-IR spectroscopy was used to identify potential biomarkers associated with oral cancer development, enabling differentiation between control and at-risk groups.Given the large volume of spectral data generated (200 patients were collected, producing 600 spectra), this study will be expanded by incorporating machine learning techniques to enhance data analysis and disease progression prediction. The application of machine learning algorithms will enable the development of more robust classification models, optimizing the identification of relevant spectral signatures and making this technique even more viable for clinical use.Therefore, in this phase of the project, we propose a more extensive and in-depth computational analysis of the collected samples. The requesting student has been working as a volunteer in our research group for a year, acquiring specific knowledge for the analyses mentioned.