An antibacterial and intelligent cellulose-based label self-assembled via electrovalent bonds for a multi-range sensing of food freshness

Intelligent labels provide customers with food freshness information. However, the existing label response is limited and can only detect a single kind of food. Here, an intelligent cellulose-based label with highly antibacterial activity for a multi-range sensing freshness was developed to overcome the limitation. Cellulose fibers were modified using oxalic acid to graft -COO− followed by binding chitosan quaternary ammonium salt (CQAS), the remaining charges of which attached methylene red and bromothymol blue to form response fibers and to further self-assemble into the intelligent label. CQAS electrostatically gathered the dispersed fibers, resulting in an increase in TS and EB of 282 % and 16.2 %, respectively. After that, the rest positive charges fixed the anionic dyes to broaden pH response range of 3–9 effectively. More significantly, the intelligent label exhibited highly antimicrobial activity, killing 100 % of staphylococcus aureus. The rapid acid-base response revealed the potential for practical application in which the label color from green to orange represented the milk or spinach from fresh to close to spoiled, and from green to yellow, and to light green indicated the pork fresh, acceptable, and close to spoiled. This study paves a way for the preparation of intelligent labels in large-scale and promote the commercial application to improve food safety.