Latent fingermarks, which are frequently present on evidence items at crime scenes, are one of the most powerful types of physical evidence because of their uniqueness and their substantial value in biometric identification. Current fingermark development methods fail to detect all the invisible fingermarks, and it can be very time consuming and labour-intensive when processing large crime scenes and bulky evidence items with large surface areas. Here we report for the first time the application of matrix-assisted desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) for the chemical analysis of latent fingermarks developed with an in situ detection method that makes use of dry powder from a fire extinguisher. The spraying process of fire extinguisher dry powder allows latent fingermarks to be developed within seconds at crime scenes, while imaging of each developed fingermark allows simultaneous pattern visualization and chemical analysis for building a profile of the individual who left the fingermark. We demonstrate that the optimized method of matrix application can be used to reveal the complex molecular information of various endogenous compounds and exogenous compounds embedded in the powder-developed fingermarks at a micron-scale resolution. Operational use of the method is further supported by successful separation of overlapping powder-treated fingermarks without disturbing the fingermark patterns. Our method effectively combines the advantages of fire extinguisher dry powder as an in-situ fingermark development technique with MALDI-MSI which shows the significant potential for the powder to be integrated into the routine fingermark forensic analysis.
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