“Investigation of the Use of Fluorescent Nanoparticles based on Mesoporous SilicaCoated with Chitosan in Developing Latent Fingerprints.”
Latent fingerprints; Nanomaterial; Mesoporous silica; Chitosan; Lipophilicity.
In recent years, the use of fluorescent nanopowders based on mesoporous silica matrix has emerged as an alternative method to conventional powders for latent fingerprint detection. This type of nanomaterial has been recognized as highly promising due to several advantages such as high fluorescence stability, controlled size, lo toxicity, and facile surface modification. Additionally, it has been reported that hydrophobicity or lipophilicity is an important parameter for the detection mechanism of fingerprints, as lipids constitute their main organic component. In this regard, the functionalization of silica nanoparticles with hydrophobic molecules or functional groups has become a significant tool for selectively targeted fingerprint detection. With this in mind, the aim of this study is to synthesize, using a sol-gel method, fluorescent nanoparticles based on mesoporous silica matrix coated with chitosan and evaluate their potential for detecting recent and aged latent fingerprints on different non-porous substrates.