TY - JOUR
T1 - Detection and identification of body fluid stains using antibody-nanoparticle conjugates
AU - Frascione, Nunzianda
AU - Thorogate, Richard
AU - Daniel, Barbara
AU - Jickells, Sue
PY - 2012/1/21
Y1 - 2012/1/21
N2 - Body fluids are considered one of the most important evidence types in forensic casework. The presence and location of blood, semen and saliva can provide crucial information to investigators. Current practice relies on an accurate visual examination followed by the use of presumptive tests to determine the identity of the body fluid type.1,2 Further laboratory based tests are required to unequivocally confirm the identity of a stain.3 Body fluid stains can be difficult to detect with the naked eye, particularly on dark backgrounds and hence vital evidence may be overlooked. Current methods are fluid-type specific, with a separate, and different, test required for each body fluid.4-6 The laborious nature of such analysis and the impossibility of being carried out at the crime scene, leads to a delay in the investigation process that could prove detrimental to the solving of the case. Hence, there is a need for sensitive, specific and direct methods which can simultaneously detect, differentiate, and locate human fluids on items of forensic evidence. Here, we describe the preparation of functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles conjugated to antibodies specific to blood and saliva components and their use in detecting small traces against non-contrasting substrates including glass, ceramic tile, paper and black fabric. The advantage of our technique is that it can simultaneously detect blood and saliva and can spatially locate and differentiate these body fluid types. Most importantly, our technology, which exploits the superparamagnetic properties of iron oxide nanoparticles, works in situ with no need to remove the body fluid stains for testing and with no washing steps and does not interfere with downstream DNA profiling. Thus, our technology represents a novel and effective alternative to existing methods.
AB - Body fluids are considered one of the most important evidence types in forensic casework. The presence and location of blood, semen and saliva can provide crucial information to investigators. Current practice relies on an accurate visual examination followed by the use of presumptive tests to determine the identity of the body fluid type.1,2 Further laboratory based tests are required to unequivocally confirm the identity of a stain.3 Body fluid stains can be difficult to detect with the naked eye, particularly on dark backgrounds and hence vital evidence may be overlooked. Current methods are fluid-type specific, with a separate, and different, test required for each body fluid.4-6 The laborious nature of such analysis and the impossibility of being carried out at the crime scene, leads to a delay in the investigation process that could prove detrimental to the solving of the case. Hence, there is a need for sensitive, specific and direct methods which can simultaneously detect, differentiate, and locate human fluids on items of forensic evidence. Here, we describe the preparation of functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles conjugated to antibodies specific to blood and saliva components and their use in detecting small traces against non-contrasting substrates including glass, ceramic tile, paper and black fabric. The advantage of our technique is that it can simultaneously detect blood and saliva and can spatially locate and differentiate these body fluid types. Most importantly, our technology, which exploits the superparamagnetic properties of iron oxide nanoparticles, works in situ with no need to remove the body fluid stains for testing and with no washing steps and does not interfere with downstream DNA profiling. Thus, our technology represents a novel and effective alternative to existing methods.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=83455186217&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1039/c1an15200a
DO - 10.1039/c1an15200a
M3 - Article
C2 - 22117199
AN - SCOPUS:83455186217
VL - 137
SP - 508
EP - 512
JO - Analyst
JF - Analyst
SN - 0003-2654
IS - 2
ER -