Journal of Forensic Research

Application of Nanotechnology in Forensic Science

Abstract

Richa Rohatgi* and Femin Dominica

Nanotechnology acts as a powerful classical tool for the purpose of identification, individualization and evaluation of materials with evidentiary value. The novel properties introduced by the changes in physical and chemical properties of the material are utilized for the forensic purposes in the detection of latent fingerprints, drugs, explosive materials etc. Nanomaterials area also proved to enhance the PCR efficiency and thereby benefits the DNA analysis. The nano-based analytical equipments such as Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Raman Micro spectroscopy and Time of Flight mass Spectroscopy (TOF-MS) are utilized for the visualization and the detection of evidences of trace amount. Among these, AFM possess wide range of applications in Forensic applications in a variety of fields such as determination of sequence of strokes, time since death, age of bloodstain etc and therefore focused in this paper, along with other nanoparticles applications.