Synthesis of Triphenylamine-Based Fluorescent Sensors for Biogenic Amine Detection and Evaluation of Their Cytotoxic Potential

Abstract

Food safety has emerged as a critical global issue due to its direct impact on human health. One of the primary challenges in this context is the rapid and accurate detection of food spoilage markers, such as biogenic amines (BAs), which are produced during microbial decomposition of proteins. In this study, we report the design, synthesis, and evaluation of novel triphenylamine-based fluorescent sensor molecules (TFA-1 and TFA-3) incorporating Indandione and Meldrum acid units. The molecular structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed using spectroscopic techniques including 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and TOF-MS. Cytotoxicity studies in mammalian cell lines revealed low toxicity and good biocompatibility, demonstrating the potential of these sensors for real-world applications. The proposed sensors exhibited remarkable sensitivity andselectivity toward BAs, indicating their suitability as reliable fluorescence-based tools for food quality monitoring.