Nanotechnology-Enabled Blood Test for oral epithelial disorders management: a proof-of-concept study

Objective: To address the limitations and complexities associated with tissue biopsy, emerging nanotechnology methods show promise in enhancing the detection and management of oral squamous cell carcinoma and oral potential malignant disorders. Among them, the characterization of the protein corona, the biomolecular layer that envelops materials when exposed to biological fluids, has recently emerged as a powerful tool for distinguishing oncological patients from healthy people. Materials and methods: Building upon recent insights, here we formulated a new diagnostic method for oral squamous cell carcinoma and oral potentially malignant disorders based on the characterization of the personalized protein corona formed on graphene oxide nanosheets when exposed to the plasma of the patients. Results: The findings highlighted a discernible distinction between oncological subjects and healthy ones, resulting in an overall accuracy of 87%. Subsequently, we applied this method to monitor the progression of the diseases of the patients undergoing treatment, and we observed a trend indicating a convergence of protein profiles between oncological patients and healthy subjects throughout the treatment course. Conclusion: If further confirmed in larger prospective studies, this new approach could discriminate oral squamous cell carcinoma and oral potentially malignant disorders and can be considered in the management of these oral diseases.