Metal Nanoparticles Decorated Graphene Nanosheets for Estimation of Meat Spoilage

Abstract

In this study, we presented a highly sensitive and simple fluorescent probe based on the Au/SH-GO and Perylene (PER) for detecting meat freshness. This probe is based on the selective recognition of histamine (His), a biomarker of meat spoilage. Ultraviolet visible, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), XRD were used to characterize the material. The fluorescence spectrophotometry was employed to examine fluorescence behavior of gold nanoparticles decorated thiolated graphene oxide against histamine. Fluorescence quenching behavior of PER/Au/SH-GO was observed as it changes its form from a non-aggregated to an aggregated form when interacting with histamine. The sensor was highly sensitive as it had a relatively low limit of detection of 1.1 mM and ranged linearly from 2.5 mM to 35 mM, thus making it efficient at identifying histamine in spoiled meat. To demonstrate the selectivity of synthesized sensor, it was tested against interfering species and the result showed that it was the highly selective towards histamine. The sensor is very stable and the results are reproducible. Moreover, salts have no pronounced effect on working of sensor. Electrochemical techniques like cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were also studied to check electrochemical response of sensor against histamine. The probe was successfully applied to determine the freshness of chicken samples providing an efficient non-destructive tool for the on-site freshness assessment that was confirmed by Confocal Microscopy.