KARACHI: A dental gadget -- Gingival Crevicular Fluid Absorbing Brush -- invented by a team of Saudi Arabia-based dental researchers, led by Dr. Zohaib Khurshid of King Faisal University, has been officially recognised by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
The device facilitates non-invasive collection of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), a key component in identifying biomarkers related to periodontitis, a serious gum disease that can lead to tooth loss.
Dr. Khurshid, who has specialized in dental proteomics and biomaterials, spearheaded the development of the gadget in collaboration with international experts from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Canada. He continues to mentor dental students in Pakistan, providing remote support for their master's and PhD research.
Key collaborators include Prof. Syed Akhtar Bokhari (Dental Public Health, King Faisal University, KSA), Prof. Muhammad Sohail Zafar (Dental Biomaterials and Restorative Dentistry, Taibah University, KSA), Dr. Syed Faraz Moin (Protein Chemist, University of Karachi, Pakistan) and Dr. Shariq Najeeb (Dental Biomaterials and Evidence-Based Dentistry, University of Ottawa, Canada)
The team acknowledged the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Faisal University for its support in advancing the tool, which bridges the gap between research and clinical application, contributing significantly to biomedical research.
Dr. Khurshid has also been recognised for his contributions in various dental fields. In 2020 and 2021, he was named among the top 2pc of researchers worldwide, as compiled by a team of Stanford University researchers. This prestigious list was based on factors such as citation metrics, h-index, and co-authorship adjusted hm-index.
