Fingerprinting: Into the Future

Although fingerprints have been used in forensic science for over 100 years, development of new visualisation techniques to obtain images of latent fingermarks for identification purposes is continuing. The use of nanoparticles, including functionalised nanoparticles is being explored as is the use...

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Main Author: Sue M. Jickells
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2008-10-01
Series:Measurement + Control
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/002029400804100802
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author Sue M. Jickells
author_facet Sue M. Jickells
author_sort Sue M. Jickells
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description Although fingerprints have been used in forensic science for over 100 years, development of new visualisation techniques to obtain images of latent fingermarks for identification purposes is continuing. The use of nanoparticles, including functionalised nanoparticles is being explored as is the use of spectroscopic techniques such as Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy. These techniques, and mass spectrometric techniques such as DESI-MS and DART-TOF-MS, can be used to detect traces of drugs and explosives on latent fingermarks; offering the possibility of providing ‘intelligence’ information about the leaver of a print. Nanoparticles functionalised with antibodies have been used to differentiate prints from smokers and non-smokers. Investigation of the chemistry of latent fingermarks has shown important differences between adults and children which have already been used in forensic casework. As advances are made in instrumentation, we can expect to see further advances not only in visualisation of latent prints but also in additional ‘lifestyle’ information which can be gleaned about individuals from their prints.
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spelling doaj.art-9b8c0a4593794f8f8ab721885ada45ab2022-12-21T23:53:34ZengSAGE PublishingMeasurement + Control0020-29402008-10-014110.1177/002029400804100802Fingerprinting: Into the FutureSue M. JickellsAlthough fingerprints have been used in forensic science for over 100 years, development of new visualisation techniques to obtain images of latent fingermarks for identification purposes is continuing. The use of nanoparticles, including functionalised nanoparticles is being explored as is the use of spectroscopic techniques such as Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy. These techniques, and mass spectrometric techniques such as DESI-MS and DART-TOF-MS, can be used to detect traces of drugs and explosives on latent fingermarks; offering the possibility of providing ‘intelligence’ information about the leaver of a print. Nanoparticles functionalised with antibodies have been used to differentiate prints from smokers and non-smokers. Investigation of the chemistry of latent fingermarks has shown important differences between adults and children which have already been used in forensic casework. As advances are made in instrumentation, we can expect to see further advances not only in visualisation of latent prints but also in additional ‘lifestyle’ information which can be gleaned about individuals from their prints.https://doi.org/10.1177/002029400804100802
spellingShingle Sue M. Jickells
Fingerprinting: Into the Future
Measurement + Control
title Fingerprinting: Into the Future
title_full Fingerprinting: Into the Future
title_fullStr Fingerprinting: Into the Future
title_full_unstemmed Fingerprinting: Into the Future
title_short Fingerprinting: Into the Future
title_sort fingerprinting into the future
url https://doi.org/10.1177/002029400804100802
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