RT Journal Article
T1 Decoding E-Cigarette Secrets: Unveiling Saliva and E-Liquid Composition through Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
A1 Carvalho, Bruna Fernandez do Carmo
A1 Pérez-Sayáns García, Mario
A1 Almeida, Janete Dias
AB Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs), initially introduced as smoking cessation aids, have given rise to a new wave of nicotine dependence. A critical question that has emerged is the potential adverse effects of e-cig use on oral health, particularly how the vapor emitted from these devices may alter the salivary composition of users. Here, we investigate the salivary composition of e-cig users and analyze the e-liquids (flavorings) using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Saliva samples were categorized into two groups: e-cigarette users (25 individuals) and nonsmokers/nonusers (25 individuals). Additionally, 26 e-liquid samples used by the e-cig users were collected, with 17 obtained before use and 9 after use. The analysis provided reliable results in distinguishing between the two groups. Notably, partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) demonstrated a high degree of accuracy (>90%) in differentiating the sample groups. Our findings revealed a higher concentration of polysaccharides, aromatic amino acids, and inorganic phosphates, along with a lower concentration of esterases in the saliva of e-cigarette users. These alterations in salivary composition may be linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, kidney diseases, and tumor formation, having a negative impact on oral immunity. In contrast, no significant molecular or compositional changes were observed in the e-liquids after use. Our results underscore the importance of continued research into potential biomarkers and the long-term health effects associated with the growing prevalence of e-cigarette use as a form of nicotine consumption.
PB American Chemical Society
YR 2025
FD 2025
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10347/46986
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10347/46986
LA eng
NO Carvalho, B. F. d. C., Foiani, L., Zucco, G., Faria, N. d. C., Nepomuceno, G., Silva, K. C. S., Borges, R., Oliveira Alves, M. G., Pérez-Sayáns, M., Martinho, H. d. S., & Almeida, J. D. (2025). Decoding E-Cigarette Secrets: Unveiling Saliva and E-Liquid Composition through Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. ACS Omega. https://doi.org/10.1021/ACSOMEGA.4C08648
NO We would like to thank the experimental resources provided by Multiuser Central Facilities at UFABC (CEM/UFABC). This research was funded by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Est. de S. Paulo (FAPESP) under grants 2020/10322-9 and 2020/10362-0; Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) grants 311933/2021-1 and 406761/2022-1 (INCT INTERAS).
DS Minerva
RD 23 may 2026