A tapered fibre optics biosensor for histamine detection

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to estimate the level of histamine in fish and fish products, as it is very important because of their implication in fish poisoning in humans; hence, ascertaining histamine levels in the aforementioned serves as a chemical index for spoilage.

Design/methodology/approach

A technique was developed to immobilize an ordered multilayer of diamine oxidase (DAO) by means of chemical cross-linking on the biconical taper surface stepwisely alternating between chitosan, glutaraldehyde and the enzyme. A spectrophotometric signal results from horseradish peroxidase catalyzed reduction of H₂O₂, a secondary product of the oxidative deamination of histamine monitored at 450 nm.

Findings

The biosensor showed a linear response range up to 1.5 mM, a good sensitivity of 0.64 mM-1 with detection and quantification limits towards histamine of 0.086 mM (15.8 ppm) and 0.204 mM (37.7 ppm) and a linear response range of 0-1.5 mM. It showed a response and recovery time of 14 sec and operational stability up to 40 repeated analyses without significant loss of sensitivity.

Practical implications

The developed biosensor has a good potential for use in the quantitative determination of histamine in seafood.

Originality/value

The paper described an outcome of an experimental work on tapered fibre optics (taper)-based biosensor coated with DAO embedded into a chitosan membrane to measure histamine.

Citation

Usman, H., Abu Bakar, M.H., Hamzah, A.S. and Salleh, A.b. (2016), "A tapered fibre optics biosensor for histamine detection", Sensor Review, Vol. 36 No. 1, pp. 40-47. https://doi.org/10.1108/SR-06-2015-0101