Food Quality Monitor: Paper-Based Plasmonic Sensors Prepared Through Reversal Nanoimprinting for Rapid Detection of Biogenic Amine Odorants

Abstract

This paper describes the fabrication of paper-based plasmonic refractometric sensors through the embedding of metal nanoparticles (NPs) onto flexible papers using reversal nanoimprint lithography. The NP-embedded papers can serve as gas sensors for the detection of volatile biogenic amines (BAs) released from spoiled food. Commercial inkjet papers were employed as sensor substrates-their high reflectance (>80%) and smooth surfaces (roughness: ca. 4.9 nm) providing significant optical signals for reflection-mode plasmonic refractometric sensing and high particle transfer efficiency, respectively; in addition, because inkjet papers have lightweight and are burnable and flexible, they are especially suitable for developing portable, disposable, cost-effective, eco-friendly sensing platforms. Solid silver NPs (SNPs), solid gold NPs (GNPs), and hollow Au-Ag alloyed NPs (HGNs) were immobilized on a solid mold and then transferred directly onto the softened paper surfaces. The particle number density and exposure height of the embedded NPs were dependent on two imprinting parameters: applied pressure and temperature. The optimal samples exhibited high particle transfer efficiency (ca. 85%), a sufficient exposure surface area (ca. 50% of particle surface area) presented to the target molecules, and a strong resonance reflectance dip for detection. Moreover, the HGN-embedded paper displayed a significant wavelength dip shift upon the spontaneous adsorption of BA vapors (e.g., Δλ = 33 nm for putrescine; Δλ = 24 nm for spermidine), indicating high refractometric sensitivity; in contrast, no visible spectroscopic responses were observed with respect to other possibly coexisting gases (e.g., air, N, CO, water vapor) during the food storage process, indicating high selectivity. Finally, the plasmonic sensing papers were used to monitor the freshness of a food product (salmon).

Optical sensors for determination of biogenic amines in food

“…To deposit the recognition layer, knife coating, spin coating, or simple soaking may be used. The probe is mostly embedded into a polymer layer as a thin film [15,20], or eventually allowed to settle on another film of, e.g., gold or silicon [21], on polymer particles [18,22,23], on a hydrogel [24], or inside nanofibers [25]. Then, various optical methods are applied for detection.…”

“…The responses to BAs were reflectometrically acquired by a low-cost digital camera and evaluated in the lab color space of the CIE system for quantification of various amines and ammonia developed upon food aging in food packages. Paper-based plasmonic reflectometric sensors were fabricated using reversal nanoimprint lithography [23], which is a robust and rapid method for embedding of metal NPs in a substrate and subsequent transfer onto paper. Gas-phase analysis of BAs was carried out using a digital camera.…”

Printed electronics based on inorganic conductive nanomaterials and their applications in intelligent food packaging

“…However, there are still some obstacles to be overcome: the sensors must be lightweight and exible, production costs need to be decreased, sensitivity needs to be increased and the sensors must be eco-friendly. 102 Flexible printed sensors for food monitoring are complex integrated systems, which are typically composed of: (1) conducting electrodes based on conductive ink, (2) exible/ stretchable substrates, such as PI, PET, PEN, and (3) sensing materials. Fig.…”

Naphthyl End‐Capped Terthiophene‐Based Chemiresistive Sensors for Biogenic Amine Detection and Meat Spoilage Monitoring

“…[5,6] About 600 millionp eople get sick every single year, and more than 400 000 peopled ie from unhygienicf oods. [7] Therefore, various techniques, such as quartz crystal microbalance; [8,9] localized surfacep lasmon resonance; [10] radiofrequency identification; [11,12] Raman spectroscopy; [13] and electrochemical, [14,15] fluorescent, [16][17][18][19][20][21][22] and colorimetric sensors, [23,24] have been developed and used for detecting BAs to monitorf ood spoilage. Unfortunately,m ost of these methodsn ot only demands ophisticated instrumentation, but also requiret edious sample preparation and are hard to use on-site.…”