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5 years ago

Biodegradable Microparticles for Simultaneous Detection of Counterfeit and Deteriorated Edible Products

Biodegradable Microparticles for Simultaneous Detection of Counterfeit and Deteriorated Edible Products
Huseyin Burak Eral, Ivan Rehor, Tina Vermonden, Willem K. Kegel, Wim E. Hennink, Sophie van Vreeswijk
In an era of globalized trade relations where food and pharmaceutical products cross borders effortlessly, consumers face counterfeit and deteriorated products at elevated rates. This paper presents multifunctional, biodegradable hydrogel microparticles that can provide information on the authenticity and the potential deterioration of the tagged food or pharmaceutical formulations. These microparticles integrate spatially patterned authenticity code with two sensors—the first one detects possible presence of pathogenic microbes through monitoring pH while the second one identifies products stored above optimal temperatures via optical monitoring of the microparticle degradation. Particles are synthesized from a biocompatible polymer and a photoinitiator, dextran modified with 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate and riboflavin, respectively, using a continuous, high throughput method stop-flow lithography. The proposed synthesis approach also enables crosslinking with visible light bringing about additional flexibility to flow lithography. Model liquid and solid food and pharmaceutical products are successfully labeled with microparticles and the functionality of the sensors in aqueous solutions is demonstrated. Biodegradable hydrogel microparticles are presented protecting consumers from counterfeited, contaminated, or deteriorated food and pharmaceutical products. Microparticles contain a spatially patterned authenticity code. Furthermore, a microbial contamination sensor and storage temperature sensor are incorporated into the microparticle structure. Stop-flow lithography, used for microparticle synthesis allows for their affordable large scale production, required for their use in industrial scale.

Publisher URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/resolve/doi

DOI: 10.1002/smll.201701804

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