Breakthrough in Forensic Science: New Nanoparticles Detect Latent Fingermarks

Breakthrough in Forensic Science: New Nanoparticles Detect Latent Fingermarks Image: gorodenkof/iStock

VoM News Desk | September 15, 2024 | 06:46 AM IST | Breaking News | Follow on Google News

New Nanoparticles Detect Latent Fingermarks

New Nanoparticles Detect Latent Fingermarks

Key Highlights:

• Fluorescent nanoparticles can detect latent fingermarks with high accuracy
• Effective on various surfaces, including metal, plastic, and glass
• Potential to revolutionize forensic science and aid in crime scene investigations

Researchers have made a significant breakthrough in forensic science with the creation of fluorescent nanoparticles that can detect latent (non-visible) fingermarks. The nanoparticles, developed using a combination of materials including MCM-41, chitosan, and dansylglycine, have special properties that allow them to adhere well to fingerprint residues, even old ones.

The nanoparticles are capable of producing high-quality fingerprint images, with the vast majority of those tested meeting the UK Home Office standards for a successful identification. This new method captures the finer details of a fingermark, making it easier to identify individuals and is expected to greatly aid in forensic investigations.

The researchers used Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) techniques at Diamond Light Source to validate their results, which provided useful data on the structure and properties of the nanoparticles. The study, published in a Royal Society of Chemistry paper, underlines that the new nanomaterial has proven to be a versatile and effective tool for visualizing fingermark evidence.

The international collaboration of researchers developed the new nanostructured hybrid material, MCM-41@chitosan@dansylglycine, to visualize latent fingermarks. This material combines mesoporous silica nanoparticles with a fluorescent dye (dansylglycine) and chitosan, a polysaccharide derived from the exoskeletons of shrimps, crabs, and lobsters.

The development of this new nanomaterial has the potential to be a game-changer in forensic science, enabling investigators to detect and analyze fingerprints more effectively. As Prof. Gianluigi Botton, CEO of Diamond Light Source, noted, “This advance in nanomaterials could be a step change in how forensics may be applied in the future.”

Refrences from Intresting Engineering website

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