Forensic Sampling and Analysis From a Single Substrate: Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Followed by Paper Spray Mass Spectrometry

• NCJ Number: 253209
• Author(s): Patrick W. Fedick; Brandon J. Bills; Nicholas E. Manicke; R. Graham Cooks
• Date Published: 2017
• Length: 7 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2016-DN-BX-0007
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research); Report (Grant Sponsored); Program/Project Description
• Award: Development of Paper Spray Mass Spectrometry for the Detection of Acetyl Fentanyl and Synthetic Cannabinoids

Annotation

This article describes the use of a paper substrate, the surface of which has been inkjet printed with silver nanoparticles, for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).

Abstract

Sample preparation is the most common bottleneck in the analysis and processing of forensic evidence. Time-consuming steps in many forensic tests involve complex separations, such as liquid and gas chromatography or various types of extraction techniques, typically coupled with mass spectrometry (e.g., LC-MS). Ambient ionization ameliorates these slow steps by reducing or even eliminating sample preparation. Although some ambient ionization techniques have been adopted by the forensic community, there is significant resistance to discarding chromatography, since most forensic analyses require both an identification and a confirmation technique. With the use of a paper substrate as described in this article, the same substrate can also act as the paper substrate for paper spray mass spectrometry. The coupling of SERS and paper spray ionization creates a quick, forensically feasible combination. (publisher abstract modified)