Dual-mode colorimetric and fluorescence biosensors for the detection of foodborne bacteria

•Covers recent progresses in integrated dual-mode colorimetric/fluorescence sensing systems.•Summarizes the application of dual-mode detecting platform for the detection of drug-resistant foodborne pathogens.•Highlights the features, functions, pros, and cons of dual-mode sensing system.•Discusses the current status and further research opportunities of integrated dual-mode colorimetric/fluorescence sensing systems. Due to the growing demand for detection technologies, there has been significant interest in the development of integrated dual-modal sensing technologies, which involve combining two signal transduction channels into a single technique, particularly in the context of food safety. The integration of two detection signals not only improves diagnostic performance by reducing assumptions, but also enhances diagnostic functions with increased application flexibility, improved accuracy, and a wider detection linear range. The top two output signals for emerging dual-modal probes are fluorescent and colorimetric, due to their exceptional advantages for real-time sensitive sensing and point-of-care applications. With the rapid progress of nanotechnology and material chemistry, the integrated colorimetric/fluorimetric dual-mode systems show immense potential in sensing foodborne pathogenic bacteria. In this comprehensive review, we present a detailed summary of various colorimetric and fluorimetric dual-modal sensing methods, with a focus on their application in detecting foodborne bacteria. We thoroughly examine the sensing methodologies and the underlying principles of the signal transduction systems, and also discuss the challenges and future prospects for advancing research in this field.