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1.9.6 Security: Application Profile: Forensic Analysis (Fingerprint Detection)

Short application description

Incident support mainly involves requirements which occur after a security incident has taken place. These include forensic investigation, and neutralisation and decontamination following a chemical, biological, radioactive, nuclear or explosive (CBRNE) incident.

A specific application of nanotechnology is its use to improve fingerprint recovery. Latent fingerprints are formed by a chemical secretion from the fingertips. Nanoparticles or quantum dots could be designed to bind to these secretions, revealing the fingerprint in greater detail, and increasing the chance of matching it. A group in Sunderland in the UK has developed sol gel particles which use fluorescent dyes such as Texas red, increasing the quality of the recovered fingerprint.

Functional requirements

Functional requirements for forensic analysis include:

Ability to develop fingerprints. The substance used to capture latent fingerprints should be capable of binding to eccrine gland secretions, or acting as reagents to these substances to enable an image of the fingerprint to be taken.

Chemical analysis of fingerprint residue. The secretions left in a latent fingerprint can also convey information about the body of the owner, such as whether they have traces of narcotics in their bloodstream.

Boundary conditions

The method used should enable the capture of a fingerprint with as much ridge detail as possible, thus increasing the chances that the fingerprint owner will be identified. The capture method should also enable the reliability and validity of forensic testing, by providing consistent results.

Product examples

No commercial products are available at this time.

Economic Information and Analysis

No commercial products are available at this time.

Selected Key Companies Profiles

ROAR Particles

ROAR Particles (http://www.roarparticles.com/) technology was developed by Professor Frederic Rowell at the University of Sunderland. The company's products are a replacement for fingerprint dusting powders, enabling more accurate fingerprint definition, and identification of chemicals and metabolites in latent fingerprints.

The company appears to be working with Nanotechnology Victoria to pilot the use of these nanoparticles with Australian law enforcement agencies[1].

[1] Forensic Science in Australia, Nanotechnology Victoria,   http://www.nanovic.com.au/?a=industry_focus.forensics