SERS Sensor Integrated in Stretchable and Antimicrobial Wrapper for Food Quality Monitoring and Preservation

In the wellness era, where food quality and safety are paramount, traditional food-monitoring methods, such as ribotyping and polymerase chain reaction, are often destructive and time-consuming, limiting their practicality for widespread application. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensing is a promising alternative that offers real-time, nondestructive, and highly sensitive capabilities. This study proposes a nanostructured SERS sensor integrated into a stretchable and antimicrobial wrapper (NSSAW). The system, which is fabricated using nanoimprint lithography, nanotransfer printing, and electrospinning, incorporates an Au nanostructure array loaded with Ag nanoparticles, creating numerous SERS hotspots. The electrospun wrapper, composed of composite nanofibers infused with curcumin, provides enhanced elasticity and antimicrobial properties. NSSAW facilitates on-site, non-destructive detection of nutritional content, freshness, and toxicants in food, while preventing microbial growth and enhancing preservation. The effectiveness of NSSAW is demonstrated by detecting purines, proteins, and lipids in salmon, textured vegetable protein (TVP), beef, and pork, as well as carotenoids and thiram in oranges. Furthermore, NSSAW effectively monitors and delays spoilage progression over time, as evidenced by the monitoring of bacterial emissions. NSSAW aims to replace conventional food packaging materials, enabling smart food monitoring and preservation, and ultimately contributing to improved food safety and quality in the wellness era.