Paikrao Hariprasad1*, Dipale Ashlesha2, Patil Anita3 and Tajane Diksha4
1Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Biology, Government Institute of Forensic Science, Nagpur, India
2Post graduate student, Department of Forensic Biology, Government Institute of Forensic Science, Nagpur, India
3Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University Amravati, India
4Research Scholar, NAU, Navsari, India
*Corresponding author: Paikrao Hariprasad, Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Biology, Government Institute of Forensic Science, Nagpur, India
Submission: January 05, 2021;Published: February 03, 2021
ISSN 2578-0042 Volume5 Issue3
Nanotechnology is becoming popular in today’s world, with the nano-revolution touching almost in every field. It offers a promising application in electronics, diagnosis, biosensing, drug delivery, and imaging. Nano-Forensic is emerging as a novel discipline in the field of forensic science. Nanotechnology has been utilized extensively in forensic science to detect and analyse evidence at a nanoscale level. Nano analysis is transforming the investigation process by making them more accurate, faster, and more sensitive. As nanomaterials have the property of enhancing the detection limit at nanoscale level it has been widely used to detect fingerprint, explosives, unlawful drugs, toxic substances and DNA samples.
Keywords: Nano-sensors; Forensic science; Nano-forensics; Nano-PCR
Nanotechnology is making a valuable contribution in every field. It is a widely used technique because of its ability to manipulate and characterize the matter at a level of single atoms and small atoms [1]. The word “nano” is derived from the ancient Greek “Nanos,” meaning “dwarf,” which refers to the “billionth” or a factor of 10-9. In general, to understand 1nm is about 3-10 atoms wide. It is very tiny when compared with the standard size encountered day-to-day. E.g., 1nm is 1/1000th the width of human hair. Nanotechnology described the study aspect concerning the science, engineering, and technology conducted at a scale that ranges between 1 to 100 nanometers [2]. The potential of nanotechnology in electronics, diagnostics, biosensing, imaging, optical devices, and drug delivery due to their small size, large surface area, and enhanced reactivity [3-7]. Its multi-purpose application in almost every field has made it a universal purpose technology [2]. Therefore this universal technology has a plentiful of applications in the field of forensic science. Nano-Forensic, an exquisite blend of nanotechnology and forensic science, is entirely a novel discipline in forensic science. Nano-Forensic helps identify and examine evidence at the nanoscale level as earlier, it is impossible to analyze the critical evidence because of the instrument’s detection limit. With advancements in the techniques, Nano analysis is transforming the investigation process by making them more accurate, faster, and more sensitive [8,9]. Nano forensic and other technologies have significant fingerprint analysis applications, explosive detection, drug screening, toxic substance analysis, and DNA analysis [10,11]. This review would briefly update how nanotechnology is widely used in forensic analysis of evidence.
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 sweat pores. Morris presented that silver nanoparticles can be used
as physical developers to visualized latent fingerprints on paper
[12]. During the reaction, the silver nanoparticles formed with the
organic constituent of fingerprints, which develop the fingerprint
in dark grey or black sliver image on the porous surface [13].
Gold nanoparticles are beneficial for latent fingerprint analysis as
they are inert, highly selective, and sensitive. It has the advantage
that latent print produced by gold nanoparticles can be store for
a longer duration. Gold nanoparticles are used to improve latent
fingerprints’ visibility by multi-metal deposition (MMD) and single
metal deposition due to these properties [14,15].
Quantum Dots and fluorescent materials have gained significant
attention due to their small size and excellent fluorescent intensity.
A study carried out by Dr. Roland Menzel [16] shows that Quantum
Dots can visualize [16]. Quantum dots can also be used for the
development of bloody fingerprints. Bloody fingerprints have high
chances of smearing and contamination, which can damage the
ridge details in fingerprints. It was overcome by quantum dots
having the fluorescence property used to analyze bloody prints
[17]. The study shows that incorporating the minor amount of ZnOSiO2
nanoparticles in powder increases the visual enhancement of
latent print to third-level ridge details of prints [18]. Carbon nano
powder has been developing for the visualization of prints against
multi-colored or patterned backgrounds [17].
Role of nanoparticles in explosives detection
Explosives-based terrorism has been rising for the last few years. Explosives such as bombs, improvised explosives devices (IEDs), grenades are causing widespread mass destruction [19]. Over the year, various sensing devices have been developed for the detection of trace explosives. Because of nanomaterial’s unique electrical and optical properties, it is widely used to develop lowcost sensors. Sensing of the explosives is usually done through biologically based sensors [20]. Immunosensing techniques provide a great sensitivity in detecting the TNT with a detection limit as low as 0.09g/ml [21]. Frances S et al. [22] prepared a capillary immunosensor for the specific TNT detection by using the Anti- TNT antibody [22]. Carbon-based nanomaterials, including carbon nanotubes, graphene, and carbon nanoparticles, have properties like chemically inert, low cytotoxicity, high biocompatibility, and unique electronic properties the applications of these materials as sensors. Chen et al. utilized graphene oxide as an oxidized derivative of graphene to detect nitroaromatic explosives. They constructed the graphene-based sensor and analyzed compounds like dinitro toluene (DNT), dinitrobenzene (DNB), and trinitrobenzene (TNB) [23].
Nanomaterial in DNA analysis
DNA analysis has a tremendous potential benefit for the civil
and criminal justice system [24]. It establishes the identity of an
individual in forensic investigation. Nowadays, nanoparticle-based
methods influence DNA analysis because of their low cost, easy
automation, and convenient operation. Precisely, the magnetic
nanoparticles are used to extract DNA because of increased sensitivity and high DNA yield. Nongyue He et al. used the Fe3O4
nanoparticles to extract nucleic acid from four different sources
such as bacteria, yeast, human blood, and virus. The results showed
that using magnetic nanoparticles to extract nucleic acid gives the
high yield and relatively high purity of nucleic acids [25].
Sensor-based DNA detection technique has applications in
DNA analysis. Mostly the gold nanoparticles are used for sensing
mechanisms because of their optothermal property. Cheong, et
al. [26] used Au nanorods for the extraction of DNA from the cell.
Using the optothermal property researchers transformed the near
infra-red energy into the thermal energy in a microfluidic chip
that results in lysis of pathogen and eventually in the extraction of
DNA [26]. Apart from gold nanoparticles, silica nanoparticle-based
assay also detects DNA with the great sensitivity of 10pM [27].
The NanoPCR, a nanoparticle assisted PCR, is gaining considerable
attention because of its specificity and reaction speed. Various
types of nanoparticles like carbon tubes, quantum dots, and metal
nanoparticles are introduced into the PCR technology. These
nanoparticles are improving the efficiency and specificity of PCR
products [28-30].
Nanoparticles in illicit drug analysis
The demand for illicit drugs is continuously increasing. Cannabis, amphetamine-type substances, cocaine, and heroin continue to be the most prevalent illicit drugs, but comparatively, new psychoactive agents have also been increasing in the market. In criminal investigations, drug analysis is a significant branch of modern analytical chemistry with many legal and socially applicable consequences. With the advancement in technology, sensing devices are used to detect drugs [31]. Sensing using nanoparticles usually takes place through colorimetric, fluorescence, and electrochemical sensors [32,33]. Gandhi, et al. [34] reported the development of dipstick assay based on the AuNP labeled single-chain fragment variable (scFv) antibody for the detection of morphine. The developed dipstick is suitable for analyzing the morphine from different biological fluids like blood, urine, and saliva [34]. Au nanoparticles show a significant Surface Plasmon Resonance phenomenon. It is used in colorimetric sensors. Gao et al. used a colorimetric sensor based on aptamer and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2)-gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to detect cocaine. This sensor has been found to be rapid, cost-effective, and highly sensitive [35]. Different quantum dots techniques along with the other techniques, are also being used for fluorescence-based sensing because of their excellent quantum yield and fluorescence [36].
The potential of nanotechnology is making a positive contribution to forensic science to solve the crime. Various types of nanoparticles are in use for the detection of various forensic samples. Nano-sensors applications in Nano-forensics are due to high sensitivity. Further, Nano-Forensics has made the investigation process rapid. Nanotechnology can benefit in the future as an advanced and preventive tool in different field of forensic science.
© 2020 Paikrao Hariprasad. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.