# DEVELOPMENT OF A WIRELESS BIOSENSOR TO TRACK BONE RESORPTION IN PERIODONTITIS

> **NIH NIH R01** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $362,188

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Periodontal disease is a multifactorial inflammatory condition affecting over 64 million people in the United
States that leads to alveolar bone resorption, clinical attachment loss, and, eventually, tooth loss. Current
detection methods rely on mechanical assessment of pocket depth and radiographic detection of bone
deterioration. By the time the disease is noted, it is already too late to fully reverse the condition. We will
develop a wireless biosensor to quantify two well-established biomarkers of bone resorption, ICTP and β-CTx,
that are detectable in the gingival crevicular fluid and correlate with periodontal disease severity, onset and
resolution. Both biomarkers are stable cleavage products of type I collagen – the most abundant organic
component of the bone matrix. Our central hypothesis is that implementation of a biosensor-based monitoring
system for ICTP and β-CTx will improve clinical detection of periodontal disease in high-risk patients while
reducing the variability and extended time to analysis inherent to current gingival crevicular fluid analysis
methods, none of which are FDA-approved for clinical use. To complete this work we will pursue three specific
aims. First, we will synthesize a peptide-specific bio-recognition layer on a piezoelectric sensor that is
protected from the in vivo environment using a mesoporous shell. Second, we will optimize methods for label-
free, in vivo, wireless measurement of biomarker concentration based on ultrasonic powering, interrogation
and telemetry in rats. Third, in addition to device development, we will generate and compile safety and
efficacy data for an investigational device exemption (IDE) application to support clinical feasibility testing.
When complete, we propose that our biosensor be used as a preventive strategy to accurately identify
accelerated skeletal deterioration in patients at high-risk for periodontal disease, prior to a compromise in bone
mass or density, thus promoting timely intervention and successful therapy. In addition to tracking disease
onset in high-risk populations, accurate, longitudinal biosensor-based monitoring is needed to establish
progression vs arrest of periodontal bone loss and thus determine the efficacy of therapeutic interventions. The
work in this grant is consistent with the stated mission of the NIDCR to monitor the dynamics of periodontal
disease, including differentiating between progressive versus arrested states and responses to treatment.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9980197
- **Project number:** 5R01DE027098-04
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Shantanu Chakrabartty
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $362,188
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-08-01 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9980197

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9980197, DEVELOPMENT OF A WIRELESS BIOSENSOR TO TRACK BONE RESORPTION IN PERIODONTITIS (5R01DE027098-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9980197. Licensed CC0.

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