Use of tectomers for the immobilization of a biosensor to detect biogenic amines towards the development of smart food packaging

Abstract

Biogenic amines (BAs) are low molecular weight nitrogenous compounds that mainly result from the decarboxylation of free amino acids in food by microorganisms. At high concentrations, they cannot be metabolized by the body and pass to the blood stream, triggering intoxication processes.Because of the growing concern in food security, the quality control in food requires the development of fast and economic methods for the detection of BAs. Most methods are based on HPLC-MS techniques, and usually require a previous derivatization, so that they are expensive and tedious.The purpose of this work is the development of an optical sensor for the detection of BAs, as shown in Figure 1, where the enzymes amine oxidase (AO) and peroxidase (HRP), and a dye (ABTS) are immobilized on mica supports, so that the dye turns blue in presence of BAs.