Feasibility of non-invasive detection of engineered nanoparticles in food mimicking matrices by Optical Coherence Tomography.
The study was dedicated towards the detection of Engineered Nanoparticles (ENPs) by means of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). Polymeric films were produced to mimic complex food matrices whereas gold nanorods (AuNRs) were embedded to act as ENPs. The straightforward coating application resulted in a sufficient film wetting, adhesion and homogenous AuNR distribution. Compared to food samples, these films are simpler and better defined. Such artefacts are therefore promising candidate materials for quality assurance and regulatory matters. The OCT investigations revealed a dependency of the measured signal intensity on the AuNR concentration in the film. The limit of detection for the setup and material was estimated to be -8 dB. This value corresponds to a ppm nanoparticle concentration being well below the concentration used in food additive applications. Thus, the findings indicate the potential of OCT to screen food/feed products for a number of ENPs.
European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM), Retieseweg 111, 2440 Geel, Belgium.
Ringo
R
Grombe
Dresden University of Technology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Department Clinical Sensoring and Monitoring, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
Lars
L
Kirsten
Dresden University of Technology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Department Clinical Sensoring and Monitoring, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
Mirko
M
Mehner
European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM), Retieseweg 111, 2440 Geel, Belgium. Electronic address: thomas.linsinger@ec.europa.eu.
Thomas P J
TP
Linsinger
European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM), Retieseweg 111, 2440 Geel, Belgium.
Hendrik
H
Emons
Dresden University of Technology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Department Clinical Sensoring and Monitoring, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
Edmund
E
Koch
D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D006046:Gold / Q000032:analysis*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*
D006046:Gold
Gold nanorods; Model thin films; Non-invasive testing and imaging; Optical Coherence Tomography; Polyvinylpyrrolidone