Nano-Trackers (Nano-Sensors) for Forensics Investigation

Introduction

In every sector, nanotechnology is making a significant impact. Its capability to modify and describe the matter at the level of individual and tiny atoms makes it an extensively utilized method. The word “nano” refers to the “billionth” or a factor of 10-9. The word is derived from the ancient Greek “Nanos,” which means “dwarf.” To put it simply, 1 nm is equivalent to 3–10 atoms. When compared to the typical size encountered every day, it is quite little. As an illustration, 1nm is 1/1000th the breadth of a human hair. Nanotechnology is the term used to define the component of science, engineering, and technology research done at a size between 1 and 100 nanometers (Shukla et al., 2016). Due to their tiny size, wide surface area, and improved reactivity, nanotechnology has the potential to be used in electronics, diagnostics, biosensing, imaging, optical devices, and drug administration (He et al., 2020; Malefane, 2020; Pavan Kumar et al., 2020).

New paradigms in science and technology are being established by the rapid advancements in nanomaterials. Due to the integration of advances in nanotechnology into the field of forensic science, this area of research is particularly significant. With verified cutting-edge nano-imaging technologies for visualization, nano-sensors, nano-manipulators and nano-forensic provides a novel viewpoint for investigations into crimes in the present moment (Dahiya et al., 2022).

It is now considered a technology with a universal purpose due to its widespread applicability in practically all fields. As a result, there are many uses of forensic science for this universal technology. A completely new field of forensic research, nano-forensic is a beautiful fusion of forensic science with nanotechnology. Identification, appraisal, crime scene investigation, and establishing links between specific evidences and offenders are the core concerns of forensic science. By detecting the presence of biological agents, explosive gases and residues, nano-forensics is a highly advanced branch of forensic sciences that is connected to the development of nano-sensors for crime investigations and inspection of terrorist activity (Mathur et al., 2016; Gopi et al., 2016). In the identification of crimes using nanotechnology, nano-analysis is frequently employed. Transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, atomic force microscopy and Raman microscopy are a few of these analysis methods (Lloyd-Hughes et al., 2015).

Nanoforensic and other technologies have important uses for DNA analysis, explosive detection, drug testing, and fingerprint analysis (Kaushik et al., 2017). These methods help forensic investigators in two ways: first, by enabling the analysis of nanoscaled samples, and second, by utilising the unique properties of nanomaterial to locate and gather evidence that would not have been possible with earlier methods. The use of modern techniques such as DNA extraction from fingerprints, gun residues, explosives, and heavy metals makes it easier for forensic experts to provide irrefutable evidence (Arif et al., 2015; Singh et al., 2015).

Due to the significance of forensic science to the legal system, errors cannot be allowed in this discipline. The materials used for analysis must exhibit great specificity and precision, just like fingerprint detection, bodily fluids, DNA, drugs, poisons, and explosives (Mahbub et al., 2020). A list of laboratories have financed in preferring analytical methods and nanostructures to provide findings with the necessary precision (Shaw et al., 2017; Rawtani et al., 2019). As in one of case relevant to fingerprint detection (Rawtani et al., 2019; Chávez et al., 2021) or drug detection being carried out by biosensors and the deployment of nanosensors enables their usage at scene of crime (Montagner et al., 2018; Teymourian et al., 2020) and explosives (Moram et al., 2020).