Smart sensing: recent trends in organic colorimetric and fluorimetric sensors for ammonia and biogenic amine detection (2020–2025)

The detection of ammonia (NH3) and biogenic amines (BAs) is very important in different fields, particularly in monitoring food spoilage where it serves as a key indicator of protein breakdown and microbial activity. Colorimetric and fluorimetric sensors emerging as powerful tools for real-time monitoring of various analytes in different mediums. This review article focuses on the recent advances from 2020 to 2025 in the development of organic colorimetric and fluorimetric sensors for ammonia and BAs monitoring in various food samples. The review also discusses the key technological advancements that have driven the development of these sensors. This includes the exploration of new organic compounds, which have enhanced sensing performance in terms of stability, selectivity, and sensitivity. Furthermore, this review evaluates the practical applications of these sensors in various contexts of food spoilage. This involves assessing their integration into smart packaging solutions and their effectiveness in real-time monitoring of food quality and safety. Finally, the review aims to identify the current challenges and future directions for research in this field, by highlighting the limitations of current technologies and suggesting areas for further improvement.