A Rapid Detection Method for Microorganisms in Food

The objective of our research is to develop a method for rapid detection of microorganism in food. Polydiacetylenes (PDAs) are unique materials which can change color from blue to red in response to stimulation. This property gives PDA the potential for rapid detection of bacteria, viruses or other food contaminants. We’ve determined how common food sanitizers react with PDAs to identify potential false positive results. We’ve successfully made solid-based PDA platform and have tested on E. coli. Obvious color change from blue to pink was observed after culturing. We continue to work on improving the sensitivity of the platform and applying PDAs in real food production environments