title: Doped hydrophobic silica nano- and micro-particles as novel agents for developing latent fingerprints.
abstract: Novel hydrophobic silica based particles have been developed to visualise latent fingerprints. The composition of the particles has been designed to maximise both hydrophobic and ionic interactions between a variety of coloured and fluorescent reporter molecules and the silicate backbone within the particles. The resulting doped particles retain the incorporated dyes with high affinity. In addition, a variety of sub-particles have also been embedded to again produce coloured or magnetisable hydrophobic particles. The particles can be harvested as nanoparticles or microparticles. The former are applied to latent fingerprints as an aqueous suspension and the latter as a dusting agent using brushes or a magnetic wand. Examples of the prints produced using these agents are given. The resulting prints have good definition.
authors.affiliation: School of Health, Natural and Social Sciences, University of Sunderland, Sunderland SR1 3SD, UK.
authors.forename: Brenden J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Theaker
authors.forename: Katherine E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Hudson
authors.forename: Frederick J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Rowell
mesh_terms: D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D003878:Dermatoglyphics; D004996:Ethidium / Q000737:chemistry; D005453:Fluorescence; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008422:Materials Testing; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D053758:Nanoparticles; D010316:Particle Size; D011208:Powders; D011437:Propylamines; D012821:Silanes / Q000737:chemistry; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D011208:Powders; D011437:Propylamines; D012821:Silanes; C040733:tetraethoxysilane; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D004996:Ethidium; C477625:amino-propyl-triethoxysilane