(ORDO NEWS) — The developed sensor based on polydiacetylene provides rapid visual detection of biogenic amines (BA) released from spoiled products.
When foods such as fish, meat, and cheese decompose, they release various low molecular weight organic nitrogen compounds known as biogenic amines (BAs).
When the body uses BA in small amounts in processes such as hormone synthesis, eating large amounts of BA from spoiled food can cause serious health problems.
Therefore, it is important to detect BA during storage and distribution of products.
This circumstance motivated a team of researchers led by Professor Sungbaek Seo of Busan National University to develop a portable molecular sensor that quickly detects the presence of BA.
“Quick and easy monitoring of harmful BAs released from tainted foods can alert us, prevent the consumption of tainted meat, maintain food quality, and create additional efficient conditions for food storage and distribution in the supply chain,” notes Professor Seo.
The researchers detailed their development in a paper published in Food Chemistry.
The team combined the color-changing property of polydiacetylene (PDA) hydrogel beads when bound to BA with an alginate solution, which created a three-dimensional porous structure with a large surface area.
The researchers demonstrated how the developed sensor beads easily detect biogenic amines, both in solution and in vapor form, through clear color changes from blue to red.
The team also installed a sensor to check for spoilage in pork samples left at room temperature for 4 days.
They showed that sensor beads could effectively detect slow-perishing foods by showing a distinct change in color tone.
The sensor is made from lightweight balls and does not require sophisticated analytical equipment or skilled personnel. It provides fast visual detection by colorimetrically changing the color of the beads from blue to red.
As Professor Seo points out, “Portable balls can be used in facilities to control the quality of food during storage and the supply chain.
In addition, the balls can be used to assess the conditions of storage and distribution of products.”
Together, this handheld PDA-based colorimetric sensor will facilitate continuous monitoring of food spoilage during storage and distribution and prevent health hazards.
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