Evaluation of DNA Extraction in the Presence of Ionic Liquids for Forensic Science Applications

• NCJ Number: 310490
• Date Published: May 2025
• Grant Number(s): 15PNIJ-22-GG-04427-RESS
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Thesis/Dissertation
• Award: Ionic liquid-solvated near infrared dyes for detection of trace blood spatter in textiles under ambient lighting conditions

Annotation

In this study, researchers evaluated the use of DNA extraction in the presence of ionic liquids for forensic science applications.

Abstract

This project, which experimented with the use of ionic liquids in the DNA extraction technique, determined that while ionic liquids do not hinder DNA extraction and can be considered great antimicrobial agents, the results from the forensic application experiment did not reveal successful extraction of DNA from the blood-soaked gauze due to factors such as contamination from the purchased gauze. To test whether ionic liquids act as appropriate extraction agents for DNA, six different ionic liquids were used to extract DNA from blood samples where the concentration and integrity of extracted DNA was then measured using Nanodrop and CD, respectively. Next, to test the antimicrobial properties of the ionic liquids used, the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus was cultured in a petri dish and the ionic liquids were added in order to measure the zone of inhibition (ZOI). The length of the ZOI is directly proportional to the strength of bacterial resistance. Lastly, as a way to emulate a forensic case, the extraction procedure was performed again but by using gauze that was soaked in blood, which mimics an article of clothing left at a crime scene. The concentration of the extracted DNA was then measured again in order to determine the success of the experiment.