pH-responsive color indicator films based on methylcellulose/chitosan nanofiber and barberry anthocyanins for real-time monitoring of meat freshness

Mahmood Alizadeh-Sani; Milad Tavassoli; Esamil Mohammadian; Ali Ehsani; Gholamreza Jahed Khaniki; Ruchir Priyadarshi; Jong-Whan Rhim

doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.10.231

pH-responsive color indicator films based on methylcellulose/chitosan nanofiber and barberry anthocyanins for real-time monitoring of meat freshness

Int J Biol Macromol. 2021 Jan 1:166:741-750. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.10.231. Epub 2020 Oct 31.

Authors

Mahmood Alizadeh-Sani¹, Milad Tavassoli², Esamil Mohammadian³, Ali Ehsani⁴, Gholamreza Jahed Khaniki¹, Ruchir Priyadarshi⁵, Jong-Whan Rhim⁶

Affiliations

¹ Food Safety and Hygiene Division, Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
² Student Research Committee, Department of Food Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
³ Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁴ Nutrition Research Center, Department of Food Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
⁵ Department of Food and Nutrition, BioNanocomposite Research Institute, Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
⁶ Department of Food and Nutrition, BioNanocomposite Research Institute, Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jwrhim@khu.ac.kr.

PMID: 33137387
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.10.231

Abstract

A new pH-responsive color indicator film was prepared by blending barberry anthocyanin (BA) with methylcellulose (MC)/chitosan nanofiber (ChNF) composite film. The addition of ChNF and BA increased the mechanical and water barrier properties but reduced the UV-vis light transmittance of the composite film. Anthocyanin showed proper compatibility with the composite film. The color indicator film showed an apparent color change in response to pH changes and ammonia gas, being suitable for indicating the change in food pH, the formation of volatile nitrogen compounds, and food decay. The color indicator film changed clearly from reddish-pink to pale peach and finally to yellow when exposed to different pH buffers. However, in response to ammonia vapor, the color changed from pink to pale green and yellow. Besides, the color indicator film exhibited remarkable antioxidant activity. Therefore, the pH-sensing color indicator film can be used as a smart indicator for real-time freshness monitoring of meat and seafood products.

Keywords: Barberry anthocyanin; Chitosan nanofiber; Color indicator; Methylcellulose; Smart packaging.

MeSH terms

Anthocyanins / chemistry*
Berberis / chemistry
Biosensing Techniques / methods
Chitosan / chemistry*
Chromogenic Compounds / chemistry
Food Packaging / methods*
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Meat / standards*
Methylcellulose / chemistry*
Nanofibers / chemistry*

Substances

Anthocyanins
Chromogenic Compounds
Methylcellulose
Chitosan