Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2025
09:01
High-resolution Thermal Micro-imaging Using Europium Chelate Luminescent Coatings
Published on: April 16, 2017
7.7K
Improving Temperature Adaptation for Food Safety: Colorimetric Nanoparticle-Based Time-Temperature Indicators (TTIs)
Gustavo Lanza1,2, Jaime Andres Perez-Taborda3, Alba Avila1
1Centro de Microelectrónica (CMUA), Departamento de Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Colombia.
Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
|March 13, 2025
Summary
New functional time-temperature indicators (TTIs) use silver and gold nanoparticles in plant-based containers. These indicators monitor cumulative temperature exposure, enhancing food safety and quality throughout the supply chain.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Food Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Global efforts to end hunger necessitate reducing food waste and ensuring food safety.
- Monitoring cumulative temperature exposure in food supply chains is crucial for maintaining product quality.
- Existing cold chain monitoring methods require improvement for real-time, product-specific tracking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate novel functional time-temperature indicators (TTIs) for monitoring cumulative temperature exposure in food products.
- To utilize silver (Ag) and gold (Au) nanoparticles within 3D-printed plant-based resin containers for TTI applications.
- To assess the colorimetric response of these TTIs to varying temperatures for effective cold chain management.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs, AgTNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using in situ reduction, seed-based thermal synthesis, and pulsed laser ablation.
- Encapsulation of synthesized nanoparticles within 3D-printed plant-based resin containers.
- Evaluation of TTI colorimetric changes (NP concentration, geometry, agglomeration) at different temperatures (4 °C and 22 °C).
- Quantification of color changes using total color difference (ΔE).
Main Results:
- AgNPs and AgTNPs showed stable color at 4 °C but significant changes at 22 °C (AgNPs: 252% variation in 5 h).
- AuNPs exhibited response at lower temperatures with up to 27% variation.
- AgTNP-based TTIs demonstrated a notable total color difference (ΔE) of 39.9 at 22 °C, easily perceptible.
- The 3D-printed containers provided suitable thermal and optical properties for nanodispersion incorporation.
Conclusions:
- The developed functional TTIs offer a robust solution for continuous cold chain monitoring of food products.
- These nanoparticle-based indicators enhance food safety by providing real-time temperature exposure data.
- The study highlights the potential of nanotechnology and sustainable materials in improving food quality preservation.
