Forensic Nanotechnology in Forensic Genetics

Journal of Forensic Biomechanics, 2017

For deciphering the secrets of forensic science, nanotechnology has quite extensively been utilized. Generally, for identifying the fingerprints, a lot of combination of different materials and film assemblies have already been utilized. Since the mode of interaction between the nanoparticles and fingerprint marks, is still not clearly understood, fabricating the nanoparticle assemblies for their identification is quite challenging. Complete identification of fingerprint marks which are generally because of a combination of some kind of proteins and fatty acids, is still a difficult task and is only partially being done with the help of different techniques. Nanotechnology has already shown immense potential in many fields like medicine, molecular biology, genetics, material science etc. and it has also marked promising potential even in forensic analysis studies. This review aims to discuss the details of the process of fingerprint formation, their role in forensic analysis along with the latest advances in the field of nanotechnology for their identification. This information may enhance our understanding about the progress in the forensic analysis of fingerprints, which may further be utilized in solving the puzzle of various criminal cases.

Nanotechnology as a new area of research, which involves the revealing of cases and evidences before the court of interest whenever it is obligatory. This area of research has its own significant interest as the advances in the field of nanotechnology are being incorporated in the field of forensic science. Only large collections of strains from all over the world and high quality sequence data will provide the basis for meaningful results in microbial forensic investigations. International and interdisciplinary cooperation will improve our capabilities to rapidly identify the agents, elucidate the source, and provide these results as evidence in court. Since the last few decades, fingerprints from pollen have become the dominion of many forensic scientists throughout the world, and have proven to be the main ingredient of one of the most powerful techniques in trace and contact evidence- Forensic Palynology. Nanotechnology is likely to play a major role in the future in the field of forensic science to deliver more selective and more sensitive ways to detect and reveal cases along with infallible evidences. Key-words- Nanotechnology, Forensic Science, Investigation, Evidences, Detection

International Journal of Medical Laboratory Research, 2017

Nanochemistry has gained importance in different fields since its advent in 1990's. One can find nanomaterials being used successfully in various fields such as engineering, medical, biochemistry, medicines etc. Forensic science too is not untouched by this emerging technology. Many reviews have been given regarding scope of nanotechnology in various fields such as biomedicine, medical, software industry, engineering etc. Many debates have been raised with respect to toxicity of nanomaterials and the present scenario calls for research in the area of maintaining nanotechnology sustainable as well as evolving. Here we will review the scope of nanomaterials in forensic science, their present applications , its future scope in the field of forensic science and the challenges that lay ahead.

arXiv (Cornell University), 2023

Herein, we report a minireview to give a brief introduction of applications of nanomaterials in the field of forensic science. The materials that have their size in nanoscale (1-100 nm) comes under the category of nanomaterials. Nanomaterials possess various applications in different fields like cosmetic production, medical, photoconductivity etc. because of their physio-chemical, electrical and magnetic properties. Due to the different characteristic property that nanomaterials have, they are widely employed in diverse domains. In various fields of forensic science such as fingerprints, toxicology, medicine, serology, nanomaterials are being used extensively. Large surface area to volume ratio of the materials in nano-regime makes the nanomaterials suitable for all these application with high efficiency. This review article briefs about the nanomaterials, their advantages and their novel applications in various fields, focusing especially in the field of forensic science. The basic idea of different areas of forensic science such as development of fingerprints, detection of drugs, estimating the time since death, analysis of GSR, detection of various explosives and for the extraction of DNA etc. has also been provided.

2018

Objectives: Saliva and semen stains may be found at crime scene (suicide, homicide, kidnapping, rape, sexual assault, poisoning, etc.). Through, which DNA can be isolated and individual can be identified. DNA can be of great importance in forensic science investigation to identify individuals. Currently, there are enormous methods to isolate DNA from biological fluids. The current study employed nanoparticle-biomolecule conjugate method to isolate DNA. Materials & Methods: A nanoparticle-biomolecule conjugate is a magnetic nanoparticle with biomolecules attached to its surface. Saliva and semen were collected using cotton swabs from different surfaces (tile, steel, aluminum, glass, iron, wood, etc.) on which saliva and semen were poured and allowed to dry earlier as to create simulated crime scene. Magnetic nanoparticles (Fe 3 O 4) act as solid phase support to isolate DNA from saliva and semen stains. In the current study, cells and spermatozoa were extracted from saliva and semen swabs, respectively. Cell lysis was performed to extract epithelial cells from saliva and spermatozoa from semen and magnetic nanoparticles and biomolecule conjugate were added to the lysed cells to bind to DNA. Results: Application of external magnetic field helped to settle down nanoparticle-biomolecule conjugate and thus separate DNA from other cell components. Spectrophotometer Nanodrop technology was employed to perform the readings, which confirmed the presence of DNA at 260/280 ratio and quality of DNA was compared with the DNA isolated using the two different methods. Conclusion: The current study aimed at developing all new methods to isolate DNA from dried saliva and semen samples using magnetic nanoparticles by reviewing the methods developed earlier to isolate DNA from blood and tissue using magnetic nanoparticles. With modifications in the method and chemical preparation, a new method was successfully developed. DNA was isolated successfully; and confirmation was made by analyzing DNA through Nanodrop spectrophotometer.

Journal of Advanced Medical Sciences and Applied Technologies, 2019

Saliva and semen stains may be found at crime scene (suicide, homicide, kidnapping, rape, sexual assault, poisoning, etc.). Through, which DNA can be isolated and individual can be identified. DNA can be of great importance in forensic science investigation to identify individuals. Currently, there are enormous methods to isolate DNA from biological fluids. The current study employed nanoparticle-biomolecule conjugate method to isolate DNA. Materials & Methods: A nanoparticle-biomolecule conjugate is a magnetic nanoparticle with biomolecules attached to its surface. Saliva and semen were collected using cotton swabs from different surfaces (tile, steel, aluminum, glass, iron, wood, etc.) on which saliva and semen were poured and allowed to dry earlier as to create simulated crime scene. Magnetic nanoparticles (Fe 3 O 4) act as solid phase support to isolate DNA from saliva and semen stains. In the current study, cells and spermatozoa were extracted from saliva and semen swabs, respectively. Cell lysis was performed to extract epithelial cells from saliva and spermatozoa from semen and magnetic nanoparticles and biomolecule conjugate were added to the lysed cells to bind to DNA. Results: Application of external magnetic field helped to settle down nanoparticle-biomolecule conjugate and thus separate DNA from other cell components. Spectrophotometer Nanodrop technology was employed to perform the readings, which confirmed the presence of DNA at 260/280 ratio and quality of DNA was compared with the DNA isolated using the two different methods. Conclusion: The current study aimed at developing all new methods to isolate DNA from dried saliva and semen samples using magnetic nanoparticles by reviewing the methods developed earlier to isolate DNA from blood and tissue using magnetic nanoparticles. With modifications in the method and chemical preparation, a new method was successfully developed. DNA was isolated successfully; and confirmation was made by analyzing DNA through Nanodrop spectrophotometer.

Foresic Research & Criminology International Journal, 2016

Nanotechnology, the manipulation of matter at the atomic and molecular level to form novel materials with unusually diverse and unique properties, is a quickly expanding area of research with immense potential in several fields, ranging from health care to production and physical science. In forensic science it promises to revolutionize the applicability of microfluidic systems in post-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) quantification, DNA extraction media, fingerprint visualization using nano-powder. In general, Forensic Nanotechnology will transform the bulky instruments into small chip-based platforms, and shorten analysis methods to make investigations, sensitive, timely, and applicable.

2020

Nanotechnology has a tremendous potential in the field of science and technology. It has been used and applied in various forms for the enhancement of already existing materials, and termed as Nanomaterials. This includes use of Nanomaterials in electronics, engineering, physical sciences, materials sciences, biomedical sciences, forensic science and many more. Most important advantage of nanotechnology in forensic science has been in revealing latent clues at the scene of crime, which can prove to be imperative in giving justice. The latest developments in the advanced analytical analysis techniques have incorporated nanotechnology in forensic investigations like never before. In this chapter, we will focus on the use of nanomaterials and nanotechnology in the field of forensic science and how it has benefited the criminal investigation, evidence examination and facilitating their admissibility in the court of law.

Journal of Forensic Sciences

The imminent nanotechnology and progressive instrumentations together have vast applications in the field of forensic science. Few prominent examples are gold nanoparticles for improvising the efficiency of polymerase chain reaction and atomic force microscopy for examining ink and bloodstains. Characteristics like distinct ridge details of fingerprints could be obtained by applying different nanoparticles such as silver, zinc oxide, silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, gold (with silver physical developer), europium, fluorescent carbon, and amphiphilic silica on a range of object surfaces, and among all, gold is most commonly used. Fingerprint is considered noteworthy evidence in any crime scene, and nano-based techniques hold immense future potential in fingerprint investigations. Therefore, this paper focuses on the applications of nanoparticles in developing and detecting the latent fingerprints.

Forensic Science & Addiction Research, 2021

Nanomaterials for latent fingerprint analysis Nanoparticles have been used for decades to develop the latent fingerprint, with silver nanoparticles being used from 1970. The small size of nanoparticles allows them to bind with the minute ridges of a fingerprint, further enhancing the ridge details on fingerprints and