Abstract:
Smart packaging of food is an emerging and challenging field of research that monitor
the food quality and conditions in real-time and enable consumers to recognize freshness
of food. This will lead to lessen health, food loss and environmental concerns. Several
smart packaging materials based upon different detection systems are available. Out of
these, Colorimetric based indicators have gained center of attention owing to on- time
detection based on color change. Many dyes based colorimetric indicators have been used
to detect food spoilage. But in certain cases, leaching of dyes into food has let to utilize
other colorimetric materials. In the present work smart packaging material as, optical
indicator for chicken meat spoilage has been fabricated and its response was analyzed.
The composite material as AgNPs/PANI-NFs/Chitosan spin coated on a glass slide acted
as optical indicator. The AgNPs were prepared by chemical reduction method and dopedPANI-NFs by oxidative polymerization. The materials have been characterized by SEM,
FTIR, UV-Vis Spectroscopy, XRD and Contact angle measurement. The colorimetric
response of PANI-NFs mediated by Ag NPs towards chicken spoilage was monitored by
visual color change and RGB color model. The optimized optical response of Ag
NPs/PANI-NFs/ Chitosan towards spoilage was measured with 6% concentration of
indicator for 2g meat at fourth day at room temperature. The colorimetric composite
formed was selective for volatile amines specifically released by spoiling chicken meat.
The optimization will further be confirmed by digital colorimetric instrument and
fabricated material can be used at a larger scale.
