title: Synthesis and application of an aqueous nile red microemulsion for the development of fingermarks on porous surfaces.
abstract: An oil-in-water microemulsion containing a luminescent dye, nile red, has been synthesised using a solvent-diffusion method. This has been demonstrated to be effective in developing fresh latent fingermarks on porous surfaces. The working solution is made using a binary surfactant solution to create a lactescent dual organic-aqueous phase intermediate, which subsequently results in a transparent microemulsion after the organic solvent has evaporated. The solution is non-toxic and performs comparatively with a previously published methanolic formulation but at a much lower cost and with an extended shelf life. The microemulsion outperforms a previously reported aqueous nile blue formulation for the development of both charged and natural fresh fingermarks, and requires lower exposure times for image recording.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology, Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia.
authors.forename: Mackenzie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de la Hunty
authors.affiliation: Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology, Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia.
authors.forename: Xanthe
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Spindler
authors.affiliation: Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology, Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chadwick
authors.affiliation: School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lennard
authors.affiliation: Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology, Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia. Electronic address: claude.roux@uts.edu.au.
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roux
mesh_terms: D003878:Dermatoglyphics; D004655:Emulsions; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006801:Humans; D010078:Oxazines; D016062:Porosity; D013501:Surface-Active Agents
chemical_list: D004655:Emulsions; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D010078:Oxazines; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C008619:Nile Blue; C044808:nile red
keywords: Latent fingermarks; Luminescent lipid dyes; Nile blue; Nile red; Physical developer