The use of silica nanoparticles for the purpose of visualizing hidden fingerprints: A systematic review

Technological advances are gaining momentum every day. Technological advances that manifest themselves in all areas offer amenities. A wide range of technological developments, from the field of Health, to engineering, from the field of production to forensic science, have implications. When the developments are evaluated from the point of view of Forensic Sciences, there are developments that facilitate the solution of the events and save time. The most basic element in the resolution of judicial cases is the provision of a triangle between the incident, the victim and the perpetrator. Various findings from the Crime Scene Investigation allow for the reconstruction of the incident. The most important evidence that allows the criminal to be profiled in a crime scene investigation is a fingerprint. A fingerprint is considered evidence due to its unique characteristics. Fingerprints are not visible to the eye and therefore need to be visualized after being recovered from the scene. Many methods are used for visualization purposes. The most commonly used methods are dusting, Ninhydrin, DFO, Super Glue e.g. the methods are not. Recently, in addition to these methods, other chemical, physical, and optical methods have been uncovered. Due to the fact that technological advances also affect the field of Forensic Science, new dimensions have also been introduced to fingerprint studies. The use of nanoparticles has gained momentum, especially in fingerprint visualization studies. In the use of nanoparticles, silica nanoparticles are used in studies. In this thesis, 19 publications involving the use of silica nanoparticles were examined in fingerprint visualization studies based on the last 5 years. This method was preferred by researchers in visualization studies because silica nanoparticles provide clear visualization and allow visualization on various surface types. In the publications examined in the thesis study, which silica nanoparticle is most preferred, which is the most common method of synthesis for silica molecules, at which wavelengths it is stimulated, the variety of surfaces used, optical techniques applied for imaging purposes were systematically examined.