pH-Responsive Bacterial Nanocellulose Smart Labels Derived from Acid Whey for Estimating Beef Mince Quality Alterations During Storage

This study develops a pH-responsive label by incorporating anthocyanin from <i>Clitoria ternatea</i> into a bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) film derived from acid whey fermentation. The labels were designed to display two distinct colors—pink and purple—by adjusting the pH of anthocyanin a...

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Main Authors: Dylan Zhe Liu, Sabeen Hassan, Benjamin M. Long, Alan Labas, Jayendra K. Amamcharla, Michelle J. Y. Yoo, Xiaojie Hu, David C. Bean
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Foods
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/9/1544
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author Dylan Zhe Liu
Sabeen Hassan
Benjamin M. Long
Alan Labas
Jayendra K. Amamcharla
Michelle J. Y. Yoo
Xiaojie Hu
David C. Bean
author_facet Dylan Zhe Liu
Sabeen Hassan
Benjamin M. Long
Alan Labas
Jayendra K. Amamcharla
Michelle J. Y. Yoo
Xiaojie Hu
David C. Bean
author_sort Dylan Zhe Liu
collection DOAJ
description This study develops a pH-responsive label by incorporating anthocyanin from <i>Clitoria ternatea</i> into a bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) film derived from acid whey fermentation. The labels were designed to display two distinct colors—pink and purple—by adjusting the pH of anthocyanin and were integrated into beef mince packaging to monitor quality changes over a 15-day storage period at 4 °C. Color variations were assessed using a chroma meter and visual inspection, with both label types exhibiting a shift to blue in response to a deterioration in freshness. Significant differences (<i>p</i> < 0.05) in total color difference (∆E) were observed across data collection days. The pink label showed an ∆E of 14.19 between day 0 and day 8, increasing to 27.39 by day 15. The purple label exhibited an ∆E of 12.94 by day 8 and 27.86 by day 15. A Total Volatile Basic Nitrogen (TVBN) analysis and microbial evaluations confirmed a degradation in the quality of the beef mince, with strong correlations between ∆E and ∆TVBN (r = 0.956 for pink, r = 0.993 for purple). Additionally, good correlations were recorded between label total color differences and coliform counts (r = 0.933 for pink, r = 0.875 for purple), as well as Total Plate Counts (TPCs) (r = 0.982 for pink, r = 0.950 for purple). These results highlight the potential of acid whey-derived nanocellulose films as real-time quality indicators for intelligent food packaging systems.
format Article
id doaj-art-2fcc19694a674d78bf852b721d5eb06b
institution OA Journals
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publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher MDPI AG
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spelling doaj-art-2fcc19694a674d78bf852b721d5eb06b2025-08-20T02:24:47ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-04-01149154410.3390/foods14091544pH-Responsive Bacterial Nanocellulose Smart Labels Derived from Acid Whey for Estimating Beef Mince Quality Alterations During StorageDylan Zhe Liu0Sabeen Hassan1Benjamin M. Long2Alan Labas3Jayendra K. Amamcharla4Michelle J. Y. Yoo5Xiaojie Hu6David C. Bean7Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USAInstitute of Innovation, Science, and Sustainability, Federation University Australia, Mount Helen, VIC 3350, AustraliaInstitute of Innovation, Science, and Sustainability, Federation University Australia, Mount Helen, VIC 3350, AustraliaInstitute of Innovation, Science, and Sustainability, Federation University Australia, Mount Helen, VIC 3350, AustraliaMidwest Dairy Foods Research Center, Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USASchool of Science, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland 1010, New ZealandInstitute of Innovation, Science, and Sustainability, Federation University Australia, Mount Helen, VIC 3350, AustraliaInstitute of Innovation, Science, and Sustainability, Federation University Australia, Mount Helen, VIC 3350, AustraliaThis study develops a pH-responsive label by incorporating anthocyanin from <i>Clitoria ternatea</i> into a bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) film derived from acid whey fermentation. The labels were designed to display two distinct colors—pink and purple—by adjusting the pH of anthocyanin and were integrated into beef mince packaging to monitor quality changes over a 15-day storage period at 4 °C. Color variations were assessed using a chroma meter and visual inspection, with both label types exhibiting a shift to blue in response to a deterioration in freshness. Significant differences (<i>p</i> < 0.05) in total color difference (∆E) were observed across data collection days. The pink label showed an ∆E of 14.19 between day 0 and day 8, increasing to 27.39 by day 15. The purple label exhibited an ∆E of 12.94 by day 8 and 27.86 by day 15. A Total Volatile Basic Nitrogen (TVBN) analysis and microbial evaluations confirmed a degradation in the quality of the beef mince, with strong correlations between ∆E and ∆TVBN (r = 0.956 for pink, r = 0.993 for purple). Additionally, good correlations were recorded between label total color differences and coliform counts (r = 0.933 for pink, r = 0.875 for purple), as well as Total Plate Counts (TPCs) (r = 0.982 for pink, r = 0.950 for purple). These results highlight the potential of acid whey-derived nanocellulose films as real-time quality indicators for intelligent food packaging systems.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/9/1544nanocellulosereal-time food quality indicatorscolorimetric smart labelanthocyaninacid whey
spellingShingle Dylan Zhe Liu
Sabeen Hassan
Benjamin M. Long
Alan Labas
Jayendra K. Amamcharla
Michelle J. Y. Yoo
Xiaojie Hu
David C. Bean
pH-Responsive Bacterial Nanocellulose Smart Labels Derived from Acid Whey for Estimating Beef Mince Quality Alterations During Storage
Foods
nanocellulose
real-time food quality indicators
colorimetric smart label
anthocyanin
acid whey
title pH-Responsive Bacterial Nanocellulose Smart Labels Derived from Acid Whey for Estimating Beef Mince Quality Alterations During Storage
title_full pH-Responsive Bacterial Nanocellulose Smart Labels Derived from Acid Whey for Estimating Beef Mince Quality Alterations During Storage
title_fullStr pH-Responsive Bacterial Nanocellulose Smart Labels Derived from Acid Whey for Estimating Beef Mince Quality Alterations During Storage
title_full_unstemmed pH-Responsive Bacterial Nanocellulose Smart Labels Derived from Acid Whey for Estimating Beef Mince Quality Alterations During Storage
title_short pH-Responsive Bacterial Nanocellulose Smart Labels Derived from Acid Whey for Estimating Beef Mince Quality Alterations During Storage
title_sort ph responsive bacterial nanocellulose smart labels derived from acid whey for estimating beef mince quality alterations during storage
topic nanocellulose
real-time food quality indicators
colorimetric smart label
anthocyanin
acid whey
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/9/1544
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