Tuesday, 13th March 2007 (3446 views)

Gold nanoparticle technology could be helping in the pursuit of criminals after a new discovery in the realm of fingerprint detection was made.

Developments in nanotechnology made by The Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel mean that hidden fingerprints can now be spotted quickly and reliably and that is down to the help of golden nanoparticles.

The gold is stabilised in a watery solution and then poured onto a marked surface where the gold particles stick to positively-charged molecules in the fingerprint. Several complex chemical reactions follow until an outline is left which traces the print's form.

Antonio Cantu, an expert in forensic science who works for the Secret Service in the US, said the discovery was remarkable and much welcomed by the police and espionage community.

He told Nanowek.com that the techniques used are "revolutionary" and "apt to greatly improve the recovery of latent prints on evidence".

The images of fingerprints can now be developed in just under three minutes of immersion time with the gold particle liquid and silver can also be used in the place of gold.

 

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