Dansyl Fluorophore Functionalized Hierarchically Structured Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles As Novel Latent Fingerprint Development Agents

Authors

Lais F A M Oliveira
Lais V A T da Silva
Artur F Sonsin
Meclycia S Alves
Cristiane V Costa
Jeane C S Melo
Nicholas Ross
Paul T Wady
Thomas Zinn
Ticiano G do Nascimento
Eduardo J S Fonseca
Alexandro M L de Assis
A Robert Hillman
Adriana S Ribeiro

Publication Date

7-12-2024

Journal

RSC Advances

Abstract

A nanostructured hybrid material based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MCM-41) functionalized with chitosan and a fluorescent dye (dansylglycine), designated MCM-41@Ch@DnsGly, was synthesized and characterized with a view to its application for the visualization of latent fingerprints. These nanoparticles were applied as latent fingerprint developers for marks on surfaces of diverse chemical composition, topography, optical characteristics, and spatially variant nature, typical of forensically challenging evidence. For quality assessment of the enhanced fingermarks, the developed images were analyzed holistically using the UK Home Office scale, forensic protocols and, in terms of their constituent features (minutiae), using forensic software. Across a substantive collection of marks deposited on chemically diverse surfaces and subject to complex environmental and temporal histories, 94% of the enhanced images presented sufficient minutiae for comparison with model dactyloscopy images. This novel nanomaterial presents enhanced performance with significant promise for superior exploitation by forensic practitioners in the acquisition and analysis of crime scene evidence.

Comments

Supplementary Materials

PMID: 39021455