Mechanistic Insights Into Nano‐Enabled Forensic Sensing: Advanced Nanomaterial Platforms for Trace Evidence Detection
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Forensic science relies on sensitive, selective, and reliable detection of trace evidence, often present in minute quantities within complex matrices. Traditional techniques, despite being well-established, are costly, time-consuming, and poorly suited for on-site analysis. Nanotechnology leverages unique physicochemical properties-high surface-to-volume ratio, quantum confinement, tunable optical/electronic behavior, and surface functionalization-to enhance forensic detection of drugs, explosives, gunshot residues, toxicants, DNA, and latent fingerprints. This review critically evaluates the mechanistic foundations, comparative performance, and translational potential of noble metal nanoparticles, carbon-based nanostructures, semiconductor quantum dots, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), and hybrid nano-composites. We discuss their roles in optical, electrochemical, catalytic, and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based systems, emphasizing field-deployable platforms, microfluidic integration, and portable devices. Key challenges including reproducibility, stability, safety, and legal admissibility are highlighted, providing a roadmap for next-generation forensic tools that bridge laboratory innovation with real-world applicability.
Source: Luminescence
DOI: 10.1002/bio.70362
Authors: Vivek Pandey, Nikky Sharma, Tejasvi Pandey
Institution: Lovely Professional University
Language: English
Subfield: Safety Research
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Funder: Lovely Professional University
OpenAlex ID: W4416538918