Fingerprints have two fundamental characteristics that allow human identification in an unequivocal way, uniqueness, and immutability. Due to these characteristics, they have been used as a tool in the criminal sphere, producing elements that indicate the presence of one or more suspects at a crime scene. Latent fingerprints are invisible to the naked eye and require prior treatment to be developed. Latent fingerprint developers are important because they react with the organic or inorganic secretions in the fingertips by chemical reactions or intermolecular interactions, such as hydrogen bonds and Van Der Waals forces. Thus, this review approaches the historical-scientific evolution of fingerprint expertise, the fingerprint formation process, and its classification according to Juan Vucetich, the first to use fingerprints to individualize prisoners. The three main fingerprint development techniques (powder, ninhydrin, and cyanoacrylate technique) were also discussed, as well as new perspectives for the use of natural substances as latent fingerprint developers (Seaweed, Spice, and Chalcones), which contain low levels of toxicity and socio-environmental sustainability. Finally, the advancement in the use of mass spectrometry to study fingerprint residues is highlighted, thus bringing additional information about the individual, such as the use of drugs of abuse, condom lubricants, and medications, as well as information about the composition chemistry of the LFP, enabling a new perspective in the investigation of the crime scene.

指纹具有两个基本特征，可以明确地识别人类身份：唯一性和不可篡改。由于这些特征，它们已被用作犯罪领域的工具，产生表明犯罪现场存在一名或多名嫌疑人的元素。潜指纹是肉眼看不见的，需要事先处理才能显现出来。潜指纹显影剂很重要，因为它们通过化学反应或分子间相互作用（例如氢键和范德华力）与指尖的有机或无机分泌物发生反应。因此，本综述探讨了指纹专业知识的历史科学演变、指纹形成过程及其根据 Juan Vucetich 的分类，第一个使用指纹来区分囚犯的人。还讨论了三种主要的指纹显色技术（粉末、茚三酮和氰基丙烯酸酯技术），以及使用天然物质作为潜在指纹显色剂（海藻、香料和查尔酮）的新视角，这些物质具有低毒性和低浓度。社会环境的可持续性。最后，强调了使用质谱法研究指纹残留物的进步，从而带来了有关个人的更多信息，例如滥用药物、避孕套润滑剂和药物的使用情况，以及有关指纹成分化学成分的信息。 LFP 为犯罪现场调查提供了新视角。还讨论了使用天然物质作为潜在指纹显影剂（海藻、香料和查耳酮）的新观点，这些天然物质的毒性水平较低且具有社会环境可持续性。最后，强调了使用质谱法研究指纹残留物的进步，从而带来了有关个人的更多信息，例如滥用药物、避孕套润滑剂和药物的使用情况，以及有关指纹成分化学成分的信息。 LFP 为犯罪现场调查提供了新视角。还讨论了使用天然物质作为潜在指纹显影剂（海藻、香料和查耳酮）的新观点，这些天然物质的毒性水平较低且具有社会环境可持续性。最后，强调了使用质谱法研究指纹残留物的进步，从而带来了有关个人的更多信息，例如滥用药物、避孕套润滑剂和药物的使用情况，以及有关指纹成分化学成分的信息。 LFP 为犯罪现场调查提供了新视角。