Targeted inactivation of specific spoilage bacteria in prepared meat products by Zn-MOF@g-C₃N₄ photocatalyst through energy metabolism disruption.

Specific spoilage organisms (SSOs) are the primary factors leading to the quality deterioration of prepared meat products. However, photocatalytic antibacterial studies have largely focused on model strains rather than the dominant SSOs in real food systems. Here, we report the targeted inactivation of three dominant SSOs-Pseudomonas fluorescens, Lactobacillus sakei, and Brochothrix thermosphacta-isolated from grilled, fried, and steamed meat products, using a Zn-MOF@g-C₃N₄ heterojunction photocatalyst. The material exhibited efficient photocatalytic H₂O₂ production (1975 μg·h-1·g-1). Under UV irradiation for 3 h, it reduced the viable count of each strain in liquid culture by approximately 2 log CFU/mL. Mechanistically, this targeted antibacterial action is achieved through disruption of bacterial energy metabolism: the material inhibited succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity by 60%, leading to ATP depletion (70% reduction) and subsequent lipid peroxidation (MDA increased 2.5-fold). Untargeted metabolomics confirmed broad perturbations in purine metabolism, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and cofactor biosynthesis (NAD+, CoA, FAD), indicating multi-target disruption of core metabolic networks. Under simulated storage conditions (4 °C), Zn-MOF@g-C₃N₄-coated packaging reduced total viable counts in inoculated meat products by approximately 2.02 log CFU/g. This study elucidates the antibacterial mechanism of Zn-MOF@g-C3N4 targeting the energy metabolism of specific spoilage organisms in meat products, providing a novel photocatalytic preservation solution for the prepared food industry.