Rapid screening of Turkey DNA fingerprint using highly sensitive label free plasmonic SERS biosensor

Meat adulteration has been raised posing serious impact on human health upon consumption. In particular, Turkey meat being low-cost is added in higher volume with duck and goose meat to gain profit. Herein SERS (surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy) being a highly sensitive optical detection technique is adopted to target label free Turkey DNA sensing. Pulsed laser deposition was utilized to fabricate various metallic nanomaterial aggregates (Ag, Au, Cu, Al) on solid substrates of Quartz and Si at constant number of laser ablations (3000NLP). The fabricated SERS biosensors are characterized for their structural, morphological and optical properties. Based on their characteristics of metallic nanomaterials, the SERS properties are explained in detail with probe molecule Rhodamine 6 G (R6G). The experimental scrutinization was correlated and validated with Finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulations. Amongst all the nanomaterials, Au/Si was found to possess enhanced sensing (Au/Q:2.8 x 107 & Au/Si:3.9 x 107) with the adopted PLD strategy. Au/Si SERS biosensor was projected with label free turkey DNA sensing which was considered as a major food adulterant with other meat types. The developed Au/Si SERS label free biosensor offers high stability, reproducibility as well ultra-sensitivity with turkey DNA sensing down to 1.8 fg/uL.

Automated summary

Meat adulteration, particularly the addition of low-cost turkey meat mixed with duck and goose meat, poses a serious threat to human health. This study adopts a highly sensitive optical detection technique called SERS (surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy) to target the label-free detection of turkey DNA. Nanomaterial aggregates (Ag, Au, Cu, Al) are fabricated on solid substrates using pulsed laser deposition, and the SERS biosensors are characterized for their structural, morphological, and optical properties. The Au/Si SERS biosensor exhibits enhanced sensing performance and is projected for label-free turkey DNA detection. With high stability, reproducibility, and ultra-sensitivity down to 1.8 fg/uL, this biosensor offers great potential in detecting the major food adulterant of turkey DNA.