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National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences

Pencil˗˗based sensor array for naringenin like compounds analysis from beverages

Description

The role of polyphenolic antioxidants in different foods and beverages on health is well-known. There are currently no specific regulations or legislation in force concerning the antioxidant capacity of a compound and no standard method for the determination of naringenin (NG) and its derivatives. Antioxidants of the flavonoid class of flavonoids of the NG type or their derivatives are found in varying concentrations in consumer beverages worldwide (beer, juices, tea). Therefore, cheap and non-polluting methods are currently being sought for the rapid, routine determination of the composition of complex samples with human health implications. The present project aims to develop and validate a method for the determination of NG and derivatives and a sensor system based on disposable graphite pencil lead electrodes (PGE) that exhibit good electrode characteristics, are non-toxic, inexpensive and easily available and widely commercially available. In the device to be developed and validated, it is envisaged to use an unmodified PGE for content determination and a DPPH-modified PGE for the determination of the antioxidant capacity of NG and its derivatives in consumer beverages, using methods already developed by the members of the project research team (the coordinator-UB has experience in the development of PGE-based voltammetric methods and the partner P1-NIRDBS has expertise in the development of methods and sensors for the evaluation of the antioxidant capacity of compounds from different matrices). In line with the existing publications of the project team, in this proposal we start from TRL2 and following the development and validation of the dual sensor system we reach TRL4. The proposed device could be used as a reliable and fast tool in beverage process control to replace complicated and time-consuming analyses when yes/no decisions have to be made