Potentiometric Determination of Biogenic Amines Using a Cucurbit[6]uril-PVC Sensing Membrane

In this work, a potentiometric sensor for the detection of biogenic amines (BAs) in food samples was developed and characterised. The sensor employs a home-fabricated electrode incorporating a cucurbit[6]uril-modified polyvinyl chloride membrane as the sensing element. The working principle, system behaviour, and optimal operational conditions for BA monitoring were systematically investigated. The developed sensor demonstrated excellent analytical performance, showing a linear response in the concentration range of 3.0 × 10−5 to 1.0 × 10−2 mol L−1, with a low limit of detection of 2.4 × 10−5 mol L−1. Among the tested analytes, the sensor exhibited the highest sensitivity toward tyramine. These results highlight the potential of the proposed cucurbit[6]uril-based potentiometric sensor as an effective and reliable tool for monitoring BAs in complex food matrices, contributing to improved food safety, quality control, and spoilage prevention in the food industry, while also demonstrating its new application as a low-cost, easily constructed platform for rapid tyramine screening in food products.