A new method for matching gold nanoparticle‐based time–temperature indicators with muffins without obtaining activation energy

Abstract

Time–temperature indicators (TTIs) can monitor the quality and safety of food. A new temperature–time point comparison method was proposed to match TTIs with food. This method omits the step of calculating activation energy (Ea). It only compares the difference between TTI response time and food shelf life to determine their matching degree. Taking gold nanoparticle‐based TTIs and muffins as experimental objects, the new and the traditional matching methods were used to match the absorbance of TTI and the peroxide value of muffins. The two results are not significantly different. TTIs with gelatin solution and gold precursor solution concentration of 150.00 and 2.05 mg/mL, respectively, can show the quality of muffins. TTIs changed from light yellow to pink and finally appeared deep purple. The deep purple represented spoilage and inedibility of muffins. Comparing Ea of food and that of TTIs can preliminarily evaluate their matching degree, improving the experiment efficiency. Hence, it is reasonable to use the traditional matching method in most cases, and use the new method only when Ea of food cannot be obtained. Practical Application The deterioration rate of food is usually calculated by developing kinetic models of characteristic quality parameters. When the reaction rate is unavailable or inaccurate, the activation energy of food cannot be obtained. In this case, it is impossible to match TTIs with food based on the traditional method. This research develops a new matching method and helps TTIs and food to be matched without considering activation energy. It will promote the application of TTIs in more products.

Principle, development and application of time–temperature indicators for packaging

“…Despite of a sharper and stronger LSPR band of silver nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles are more welcomed for biological applications due to its chemical stability and biocompatibility. 45 So far, TTIs based on Au NPs stabilized by various natural polymers, such as gelatin, [46][47][48] chitosan, 49,50 and alginate 51 Photonic crystals are highly ordered materials featured with striking optical properties, for example, structural colour induced by Bragg diffraction, and sensing applications. 54 Cencha et al 55…”

“…Despite of a sharper and stronger LSPR band of silver nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles are more welcomed for biological applications due to its chemical stability and biocompatibility 45 . So far, TTIs based on Au NPs stabilized by various natural polymers, such as gelatin, 46–48 chitosan, 49,50 and alginate 51 have been reported. In 2012, Lim et al 46 prepared gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) by isothermally treating a solution containing gelation and a gold precursor (HAuCl 4 ) at 80°C.…”

Nanomaterials in Smart Packaging Applications: A Review

“…[149] Although the optical bands for Ag are sharper and stronger than Au, Au is more suitable for biological applications because it is chemically inert and biocompatible. [159] Studies on Aubased TTIs using biomolecules such as alginate, [77,160,161] gelatin, [162,163] and chitosan, [115,164] have been reported. In a study on gelatin-templated AuNPs, Wang et al prepared spherical AuNPs with average particle diameters of ≈19 nm.…”

“…Using this method, Zhang et al developed a gold nanoparticle-based TTI to be used in muffins. [161] The TTIs were formed after mixing the gold precursors into a gelatin solution and then transferring the mixture into a small cuvette. The second category is the casting or coating of a mixture onto a substrate.…”