Rapid and ultra-sensitive detection of pork DNA with surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy for onsite food quality inspection

Abstract

Determination of pork DNA is essential to avoid the serious allergens imposed by it as well as for halal authentication for certain community. The needed sensor should be able to identify the pork DNA in rapid way and sensitive to ultra-low molarity detection. In this work we developed a surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy sensor (SERS) using silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on Si matrix. A deep investigation of the effect of the laser wavelength on the sensing efficiency has been performed. Wavelength dependent sensing mechanisms are deliberately studied in the current research. Further the selectivity of sensor towards Pork DNA discrimination is exhibited with Chicken DNA analysis. The developed SERS sensor identifies the Pork DNA down to 13.6 fg/ μL proving its excellent sensitivity. The statistical outfit studies with regard to the developed sensor shows the low values of RSD (∼3%) adding advantage of the developed SERS sensor biosensor. The SERS sensor will definitely serve to be an excellent fast, selective and sensitive tool for onsite screening of meat products to cease the adulteration.

Keywords

• Pork DNA
• Chicken DNA
• SERS sensor
• Si substrate
• Silver nanoparticles
• Low-level detection