Saliva Lab-on-a-chip biosensors: Recent novel ideas and applications in disease detection

Lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices have revolutionized the metabolic detection field by bringing together the advantages of biosensors and microfluidics in a single chip. Saliva, which contains a variety of biomarkers, has recently been recognized as a non-invasive biofluidic alternative for many diagnostic purposes. Hence, the application of LOCs for saliva analysis can be a promising diagnostic technique for a wide range of medical situations and diseases. Herein we present a review on the LOCs applied so far for diseases detection using saliva and future horizons. In this regard, after a brief introduction of LOC and saliva, a list of novel LOCs designed or used for the detection of different bacteria and viruses, cytokines, metabolites, kidney related diseases, prostate cancer and oral diseases along with their pros and cons is provided. We are also going to report how these advancements could help with the current pandemic.