The spectroscopic detection of drugs of abuse in fingerprints after development with powders and recovery with adhesive lifters

The application of powders to fingerprints has long been established as an effective and reliable method for developing latent fingerprints. Fingerprints developed in situ at a crime scene routinely undergo lifting with specialist tapes and are then stored in evidence bags to allow secure transit and also to preserve the chain of evidence. In a previous study we have shown that exogenous material within a fingerprint can be detected using Raman spectroscopy following development with powders and lifting with adhesive tapes. Other reports have detailed the use of Raman spectroscopy to the detection of drugs of abuse in latent fingerprints including cyanoacrylate-fumed fingerprints. This study involves the application of Raman spectroscopy for the analysis of drugs of abuse in latent fingerprints for fingerprints that had been treated with powders and also subsequently lifted with adhesive tapes. Samples of seized ecstasy, cocaine, ketamine and amphetamine were supplied by East Sussex Police and by the TICTAC unit at St. Georges Hospital Tooting. Contaminated fingerprints were deposited on clean glass slides. The application of aluminium or iron based powders to contaminated fingerprints did not interfere with the Raman spectra obtained for the contaminants. Contaminated fingerprints developed with powders and then lifted with lifting tapes were also examined. The combination of these two techniques did not interfere with the successful analysis. The lifting process was repeated using hinge lifters. As the hinge lifters exhibited strong Raman bands the spectroscopic analysis was more complex and an increase in the number of exposures to the detector allowed for improved clarification. Spectral subtraction was performed to remove peaks due to the hinge lifters using OMNIC software. Raman spectra of developed and lifted fingerprints recorded through evidence bags were obtained and it was found that the detection process was not compromised. Although the application of powders did not interfere with the detection process the time taken to locate the contaminant was increased due to the physical presence of more material within the fingerprint.     

The detection of drugs of abuse in fingerprints using Raman spectroscopy I: latent fingerprints

This paper describes the application of Raman spectroscopy to the detection of exogenous substances in latent fingerprints. The scenario considered was that of an individual handling a substance and subsequently depositing a contaminated fingerprint. Five drugs of abuse (codeine phosphate, cocaine hydrochloride, amphetamine sulphate, barbital and nitrazepam) and five non-controlled substances of similar appearance, which may be used in the adulteration of drugs of abuse (caffeine, aspirin, paracetamol, starch and talc), were studied in both sweat-rich and sebum-rich latent fingerprints. The substances studied could be clearly distinguished using their Raman spectra and were all successfully detected in latent fingerprints. Photobleaching was necessary to reduce the fluorescence background in the spectra of some substances. Raman spectra obtained from the substances in sweat-rich latent fingerprints were of a similar quality to spectra that obtained from the substances under normal sampling conditions. Interfering Raman bands arising from latent fingerprint material were present in the spectra obtained from the substances in sebum-rich fingerprints. These bands did not prevent identification of the substances and could be successfully removed by spectral subtraction. The most difficult aspect of the detection of these substances in latent fingerprints was visually locating the substance in the fingerprint in order to obtain a Raman spectrum.     

Detection of illicit substances in fingerprints by infrared spectral imaging

FTIR and Raman spectral imaging can be used to simultaneously image a latent fingerprint and detect exogenous substances deposited within it. These substances might include drugs of abuse or traces of explosives or gunshot residue. In this work, spectral searching algorithms were tested for their efficacy in finding targeted substances deposited within fingerprints. “Reverse” library searching, where a large number of possibly poor-quality spectra from a spectral image are searched against a small number of high-quality reference spectra, poses problems for common search algorithms as they are usually implemented. Out of a range of algorithms which included conventional Euclidean distance searching, the spectral angle mapper (SAM) and correlation algorithms gave the best results when used with second-derivative image and reference spectra. All methods tested gave poorer performances with first derivative and undifferentiated spectra. In a search against a caffeine reference, the SAM and correlation methods were able to correctly rank a set of 40 confirmed but poor-quality caffeine spectra at the top of a dataset which also contained 4,096 spectra from an image of an uncontaminated latent fingerprint. These methods also successfully and individually detected aspirin, diazepam and caffeine that had been deposited together in another fingerprint, and they did not indicate any of these substances as a match in a search for another substance which was known not to be present. The SAM was used to successfully locate explosive components in fingerprints deposited on silicon windows. The potential of other spectral searching algorithms used in the field of remote sensing is considered, and the applicability of the methods tested in this work to other modes of spectral imaging is discussed.     

Method for combined biometric and chemical analysis of human fingerprints

This paper describes a method for combining direct chemical analysis of latent fingerprints with subsequent biometric analysis within a single sample. The method described here uses ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) as a chemical detection method for explosives and narcotics trace contamination. A collection swab coated with a high-temperature adhesive has been developed to lift latent fingerprints from various surfaces. The swab is then directly inserted into an IMS instrument for a quick chemical analysis. After the IMS analysis, the lifted print remains intact for subsequent biometric scanning and analysis using matching algorithms. Several samples of explosive-laden fingerprints were successfully lifted and the explosives detected with IMS. Following explosive detection, the lifted fingerprints remained of sufficient quality for positive match scores using a prepared gallery consisting of 60 fingerprints. Based on our results (n?=?1200), there was no significant decrease in the quality of the lifted print post IMS analysis. In fact, for a small subset of lifted prints, the quality was improved after IMS analysis. The described method can be readily applied to domestic criminal investigations, transportation security, terrorist and bombing threats, and military in-theatre settings.     

The detection of drugs of abuse in fingerprints using Raman spectroscopy II: cyanoacrylate-fumed fingerprints

This paper describes the application of Raman spectroscopy to the detection of exogenous substances in cyanoacrylate-fumed fingerprints. The scenario considered was that of an individual handling a substance and subsequently depositing a contaminated fingerprint. These fingerprints were enhanced by cyanoacrylate fuming, a process in which a layer of white cyanoacrylate polymer is deposited on the fingerprint material, enabling visual detection. Five drugs of abuse (codeine phosphate, cocaine hydrochloride, amphetamine sulphate, barbital and nitrazepam) and five non-controlled substances of similar appearance, which may be used in the adulteration of drugs of abuse (caffeine, aspirin, paracetamol, starch and talc), were used. The substances studied could be clearly distinguished using their Raman spectra and were all successfully detected in cyanoacrylate-fumed fingerprints. Photobleaching was necessary to reduce the fluorescence background in the spectra of some substances. Raman spectra obtained from the substances in cyanoacrylate-fumed fingerprints were of a similar quality to spectra obtained from the substances under normal sampling conditions, however, interfering Raman bands arising from the cyanoacrylate polymer were present in the spectra. In most cases the only interfering band was the C triple bond N stretching mode of the polymer, and there were no cases where the interfering bands prevented identification of the substances. If necessary, the interfering bands could be successfully removed by spectral subtraction. The most difficult aspect of the detection of these substances in cyanoacrylate-fumed fingerprints was visually locating the substance in the fingerprint beneath the polymer layer in order to obtain a Raman spectrum.     

聚酰胺-胺树形分子对胶带上油潜指纹的显现研究

研究了不同pH值和光源波长条件下,荧光性聚酰胺-胺树形分子(PAMAM)水溶液对胶带粘面上油潜指纹的显现效果.结果显示:PAMAM树形分子水溶液pH值大于7时,指纹残留物被不同程度地溶解,因此显现效果不佳;pH值为4—7时,显现效果较好,处理过的指纹发出明亮的蓝色荧光,指纹纹路完整、特征明显,且与基底的对比度较高;但由于用365 nm紫外光激发时,PAMAM树形分子的蓝色荧光容易受胶带中杂质蓝色荧光的影响,因此对比度仅为28.8%左右;采用其它波段的可见光或者复合白光作为光源后,有效规避了胶带中杂质的同色系荧光干扰,指纹对比度可提高至90%,并且避免了紫外光使用过程中对人体的伤害.PAMAM树形分子水溶液是一种环保的、具有潜在应用价值的识别胶带粘面上油潜指纹的优良显现材料.     

荧光性聚酰胺-胺树形分子在潜指纹显现中的应用研究

本文系统研究了不同条件(树形分子代数、浓度、浸泡时间等)下荧光性聚酰胺-胺树形分子(PAMAM)水溶液作为荧光探针对锡纸、透明胶带等基底上油印潜指纹的显现效果.结果发现PAMAM树形分子可以和指纹残留物进行靶向结合.结合到指纹纹线上的该荧光性纳米材料在暗室中365 nm紫外光的激发下发出明亮的蓝色荧光,指印纹线与基底反差大、指纹易于辨认,且操作简单,试剂完全环保无污染.这些结果表明PAMAM水溶液是一种潜在的优良的指纹显现试剂.最后,把PAMAM树形分子水溶液对指纹的显现效果进行量化处理,乳突纹与基底间的灰度对比度达到90%以上.     

指纹中生活特征成分检验方法研究进展

指纹是犯罪现场最常见到的汗液斑形式。目前对其进行的分析仍多局限于形态学描述和DNA检验。指纹中含有多种内源性和外源性物质,其中蕴含着遗留者的生物特征、社会习性等相关信息。通过检验指纹中的生活特征成分,可对指纹遗留者进行刻画,从而为侦查提供线索。这种技术在无法通过指纹进行个体识别时有更加重要的意义。本文总结了指纹中含有的生活特征成分,并概述了相关检验方法的研究进展。在不久的将来,相关技术一定会在案件侦查中发挥重要作用。     

Quantitative fingerprinting based on the limited‐ratio quantified fingerprint method for an overall quality consistency assessment and antioxidant activity determination of Lianqiao Baidu pills using HPLC with a diode array detector combined with chemometric methods

Lianqiao Baidu pills are widely used herbal medicinal preparation that were analyzed to develop a quality consistency technique. The characteristic fingerprints of 28 batches of Lianqiao Baidu pill samples were established at five wavelengths and simultaneously assessed by using a limited‐ratio quantified fingerprint method using 15 marker compounds. The principal component analysis and fingerprinting results were compared, and the qualitative classification of the samples by principal component analysis agreed with their quantitative evaluation by the limited‐ratio quantified fingerprint method. Furthermore, the antioxidant activities of the samples were surveyed and determined using a 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical‐scavenging approach. A relationship between the common peaks in the fingerprints and the antioxidant activities was established using a partial least squares model. The relationship can be used both to determine the antioxidant activities of the Lianqiao Baidu pill preparations in vitro and as a reference for the selection of active constituents for sample quality classification. The classification results for the samples based on principal component analysis agreed with the quantitative evaluation by the limited‐ratio quantified fingerprint method, which demonstrated that the method can be applied to the holistic quality control of traditional Chinese medicine and herbal preparations.     

Simultaneous extraction of level 2 and level 3 characteristics from latent fingerprints imaged with quantum dots for improved fingerprint analysisc

The numbers of level 2 and level 3 features that can be mapped by CdTe QDs are signifi cantly larger than those obtained by cyanoacrylate fuming (a standard technique being adopted at the forensic crime scene for examination of invisible fi ngerprints) and inkpad imaging.     

Simultaneous extraction of level 2 and level 3 characteristics from latent fingerprints imaged with quantum dots for improved fingerprint analysis

Fingerprints are unique and life-long to everyone, so they occupy very important statuses in forensic science. However, due to the limit of current imaging technologies and instruments, recognition and matching of fingerprints are mostly based on their level 2 structures(bifurcation, crossover, and etc.).Moreover, in real-world cases, fingerprints collected in the field are often incomplete or damaged, which adds further difficulty in fingerprint analysis. Quantum dots(QDs) are superior fluorescent imaging agents for latent fingerprints, which can provide both level 2 and level 3(sweat pores) details. Here, we used red-emitting N-acetylcysteine-capped Cd Te QDs as imaging agent for staining of eccrine LFPs. The numbers of level 2 and level 3 features that can be mapped are significantly larger than those obtained by cyanoacrylate fuming, a standard technique being adopted at forensic scene. Therefore, the level 2 and level 3 characteristics from QD-staining were simultaneously extracted for improved fingerprint analysis.A preliminary fingerprint matching based modified Pore Matching algorithm was thus developed based on the integration of both level 2 and level 3 characteristics. Satisfactory results of fingerprint matching were obtained, demonstrating the advantage of the QD-staining for advanced fingerprint analysis.     

汽车漆皮的气相色谱指纹图谱比对方法及应用研究

采用在线热解吸/毛细管气相色谱联用方法建立了对汽车漆皮指纹图谱进行比对的方法,并将该方法应用于实际样品的鉴定。该方法通过将一定大小和质量的漆皮样品置于热解吸炉中进行加热解吸,自漆皮中解吸出来的挥发性有机物在色谱仪上得到分离检测。通过直观比较两张漆皮图谱的峰形轮廓是否一致进行初步判断,对外形相似的图谱进一步计算二者谱峰的重叠率,并以相对保留时间比值rt2/rt1和相对峰面积比值rA2/rA1来考察待比较图谱的相似度。当谱峰重叠率大于90%,rt2/rt1和rA2/rA1的相似度分别大于99%和70%时,可认定待比较的两个漆皮样品来自同一辆车。该方法操作简便,谱峰识别能力强,实现了对指纹图谱的定量表征描述,使漆皮的仪器分析数据成为法律上可采信的有力物证之一。     

基于三波长融合谱的系统指纹定量法鉴定龙胆泻肝丸的真实质量

建立了龙胆泻肝丸(Longdanxiegan pill,LDXGP)三波长融合高效液相色谱(HPLC)指纹图谱,以系统指纹定量法全面鉴定LDXGP的质量。采用反相高效液相色谱法(RP-HPLC),运用多波长融合指纹图谱技术对色谱图进行处理,以黄芩苷为参照物峰,确立了63个共有指纹峰,以宏定性相似度为参量对12个厂家的12批LDXGP进行聚类分析,确定用其中10批生成对照指纹图谱(RFP),以此RFP为标准用系统指纹定量法评价12批LDXGP的质量。结果鉴别出9批质量完全合格,1批含量明显偏高,2批化学成分数量和分布比例不合格。基于多波长融合技术的系统指纹定量法是评价中药真实质量的可靠方法。     

Principle of nonlinear chemical fingerprint by using dissipative components in samples as well as calculation and evaluation of similarity

Under the conditions of constant temperature and pressure,different influences of samples with different chemical components on the mechanism of nonlinear chemical reaction will cause different changes of the potential-time relationship curve of the nonlinear chemical reaction system.Using it as the character,and using the B-Z nonlinear chemical system to use acetone and substrates in samples as main dissipative substances qua an example,the principle of nonlinear chemical fingerprint has been researched and discussed in detail.At the same time,the general method for calculating the system similarity about nonlinear chemical fingerprint was also put forward,and similarities of nonlinear chemistry fingerprints of different batches of Guhan Yangshengjing and 18 sorts of other samples were calculated by Euclidean distance,correlation coefficient,included angle cosine and system similarity,at the same time,the various similarities were analyzed.The results showed that,both of correlation coefficient and included angle cosine are unable to be used as the criterion for quantitatively evaluating the similarity of nonlinear chemistry fingerprint;as non-parametric similarity,Euclidean distance can accurately reflect the feature differences in the fingerprints,but as parametric similarity,sometimes,Euclidean distance can not accurately reflect the relative extent of characteristic difference in the nonlinear chemical fingerprints;system similarity can most truthfully reflect the characteristic difference in the nonlinear chemical fingerprints,and is the best evaluating method among the four ones.Therefore,system similarity can be used to quantitatively calculate the similar extent between the nonlinear chemical fingerprints.An economical,simple and convenient,easy pushing and effective method for identifying and evaluating complicated samples has successfully been put forward.     

Analysis of amino acids in latent fingerprint residue by capillary electrophoresis‐mass spectrometry

The analysis of the chemical composition of fingerprints is important for the development and improvement of existing fingerprint enhancement techniques. This study demonstrates the first analysis of a latent fingerprint sample, using an optimized CE‐MS method. In total 12 amino acids were detected in the fingerprint sample. MS/MS fragmentation was used to provide additional identity confirmation, for which eight of the twelve detected amino acids generated confirmatory product ions. Nine amino acids were quantified and their relative abundances were consistent with previous studies with serine and glycine being the most abundant. The successful detection of amino acids from latent fingerprints demonstrates that CE‐MS is a potential future technique for further study of such compounds in fingerprint samples.     

Integrated evaluation of HPLC and UV fingerprints for the quality control of Danshen tablet by systematic quantified fingerprint method combined with antioxidant activity

Danshen tablet, which consists of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Borneolum syntheticum , has been widely used in the therapy of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to develop comprehensive evaluation methods for the quality control of Danshen tablet. First, five‐wavelength fusion fingerprint was established to avoid one‐sidedness of a single wavelength. Then, the ultraviolet spectrum fingerprint was applied to reflect the information of unsaturated bond and conjugated system of chemical substances in Danshen tablet. The similarity analyses of these two fingerprints were performed by systematic quantified fingerprint method in terms of qualitative and quantitative aspects. After that, the evaluation results of high‐performance liquid chromatography and ultraviolet fingerprints were integrated by the mean algorithm, which could reduce the error caused by single method. The integrated evaluation results showed that 30 batches of samples were classified into seven grades. Finally, the fingerprint–efficacy relationship was established using an on‐line antioxidant system and partial least‐squares model to explore the connection between chemical components and antioxidant activities. The methods established in this paper were found suitable for the analysis of Danshen tablet.     

中药配方颗粒红外指纹图谱研究

采用傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)技术分析鉴别了350种中药配方颗粒红外指纹图谱的结构特征。结果表明，借助于各种药用植物和动物配方颗粒的FTIR指纹图谱的差别可进行快速分类鉴别；根据配方颗粒与中药原药材谱图之间的相关性，以及中药材经过炮制、加热、水提处理后，配方颗粒与原药材之间在谱图上所代表的化学成分上的异同可以进行中药配方颗粒的质量控制；凭借不同炮制方法与未经炮制处理的配方颗粒间FTIR谱图的差别，可以进一步分析炮制后配方颗粒化学成分的变化，不同炮制方法对配方颗粒化学成分的影响；对于不同厂家的配方颗粒及同一厂家不同生产批号的配方颗粒也进行了较系统的分析研究。方法快速，简便，专属性强，不需对样品进行分离提取。     

大豆异黄酮指纹图谱中保留时间漂移的校正研究

选取5个极性不同的化合物作为标准样品,在不同仪器及不同色谱柱上采用已建立的大豆异黄酮高效液相色谱(HPLC)指纹图谱条件进行测定,以它们在不同色谱仪(或柱)上的保留时间进行线性回归,并用得到的线性方程对相同条件下测得的大豆异黄酮指纹谱中峰面积为总峰面积1.5%以上的色谱峰的保留时间进行校正,通过校正使保留时间的最大绝对误差由5.868 min减小为0.854 min。采用该方法可以校正相同色谱条件但不同实验室间指纹图谱保留时间的漂移,提高HPLC指纹图谱的重现性。     

Determining method, conditional factors, traits and applications of nonlinear chemical fingerprint by using dissipative components in samples

The thermodynamic systems and dynamic model suitable for determining the nonlinear chemical fingerprints of samples were analyzed.The results indicated that the damp nonlinear chemical reactions in close systems away from the equilibrium and open systems without the complementarity of the dissipation substances have important significance for the throng characterization and whole content analysis of chemical components in samples.Various factors influencing on nonlinear chemical fingerprint,such as reactant species and their concentrations,electrode types,temperature,stir rate,the sort,dosage and granularity of the sample,etc.were amply researched by a nonlinear chemistry reaction,namely,damp B-Z oscillation which used acetone and glucose as the main dissipative substances.In addition,the quantitative information on the whole of chemical components in samples and the traits and applications of the fingerprint were investigated.The method and its important conditions for determining nonlinear chemistry fingerprint used in distinguishing and evaluating complex samples were successfully put forward.