Ionic Covalent Organic Networks Confined in Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for Optosensing of Histamine in Fish Products.

Abstract

Histamine is a naturally occurring alkaloid that is an important indicator of meat spoilage, and excessive levels in food can lead to food poisoning or trigger allergic reactions. Therefore, accurate detection of histamine in meat is crucial for evaluating freshness and ensuring meat quality. In this study, a fluorescence probe based on ionic covalent organic networks confined with molecularly imprinted polymers (iCON@MIPs) was developed for detecting histamine in aquatic products. The probe was utilized iCOFs as the light-emitting element to improve the selectivity of the system for histamine by ion attraction reaction, and its anti-interference ability enhanced through molecular imprinting technology. The maximum emission wavelength of iCON@MIPs was at 570 nm, giving it a bright yellow emission and endowing it with the ability for on-site detection. The detection limit of iCON@MIPs for histamine was 0.516 µg L^- 1, with a good recovery rate of 87.29-102.26% in fish samples. The fluorescence probe developed in this study provides an effective and rapid detection method for harmful substances in food, agriculture, environment and even medicine.