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                            Funding & Awards
 Development and Application of Small-molecule Spatial Distribution Imaging: Laser Ablation Direct Analysis in Real Time Imaging-Mass Spectrometry (LADI-MS)
Note:
              This awardee has received supplemental funding. This award detail page includes information about both the original award and supplemental awards.
Award Information
Awardee
              The State University of New York, University at Albany
Award #
              2017-R2-CX-0003
Funding Category
              Competitive
Location
                    Albany, NY
Congressional District
              20
Status
              Closed
Funding First Awarded
              2017
Total funding (to date)
              $100,000
Original Solicitation
              NIJ FY17 Graduate Research Fellowship Program in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2017, $50,000)
It is often the case that evidence collected at a crime scene must be subjected to multiple analysis methods in order for the full picture of what the evidence shows to emerge. 

In an ideal situation, there would be unlimited amounts of a given piece of evidence, and this would allow the performance of all possible types of analyses, the results of which would provide a detailed composite of aspects of the crime and its circumstances. 

However, it is usually the case that the amount of a given form of evidence is very limited. In such instances, not all testing methods that are desired can be performed, and difficult decisions must be made about the forms of analysis to which the sample should be subjected in order to acquire data that are most definitive. This common occurrence fuels the continued development of technologies that can provide multiple forms of definitive information within a single experiment. Such methodologies would also streamline the analysis process and reduce the number of forms of analysis that must be performed on a single sample. This in turn would reduce the amount of evidence required for analysis.

The work proposed here would develop such a technique. The system would be capable of rapidly providing small-molecule spatial distribution maps of analyzed forensic evidence with minimal to no sample pre-treatment steps. For example, it would permit the mapping of components such as illicit drugs, legal mind-altering plant materials, or explosive materials in an individuals fingerprints, while maintaining the image of the print. Since the observed print contains both the image of the chemical material to which the criminal has been exposed, and the image of the compounds normally detected by conventional fingerprint development methods, it would provide a direct connection between an individual and other material related to the crime. 

The technique proposed in this project would detect alterations made to questioned documents by mapping the spatial distributions of molecules unique to different pen inks (for example). Furthermore, it would enable detection of both inorganics and organics in gunshot residues through performance of a single experiment.

The approach involves the integration of a direct analysis in real time (DART) ion source, a high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometer, and a laser ablation system which would be operated in open air and optimized for the rapid, routine and facile detection of the spatial distributions of small-molecules in a wide variety of forensic samples.

ca/ncf
Supplemental Award 1 (Fiscal Year 2018, $50,000)
The applicant proposes to use laser ablation coupled with mass spectrometry to nondestructively extract additional evidence from evidence gathered at a crime scene. This technique has potential applicability to multiple types of forensic evidence, including fingerprints, ammunition and questioned documents.  As an illustrative example, this technique, if successful, would extract and identify the molecules associated with explosive residue captured in the chemicals used to develop fingerprints, without destroying the prints.
"Note: This project contains a research and/or development component, as defined in applicable law," and complies with Part 200 Uniform Requirements - 2 CFR  200.210(a)(14).
nca/ncf


  
Grant-Funded Publications
        
                      Simultaneous Imaging of Latent Fingermarks and Detection of Analytes of Forensic Relevance by Laser Ablation Direct Analysis in Real Time Imaging-Mass Spectrometry (LADI-MS)
                  Spatial Distributions of Furan and 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural in Unroasted and Roasted Coffea Arabica Beans
                  Development of Laser Ablation Direct Analysis in Real Time Imaging-Mass Spectrometry (LADI-MS)-Applications to Questions of Relevance to Forensic Science and Plant Biochemistry
                  Identification and Classification of Cathinone Unknowns by Statistical Analysis Processing of Direct Analysis in Real Time-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry-Derived "Neutral Loss" Spectra
                  Development of "Laser Ablation Direct Analysis in Real Time Imaging" Mass Spectrometry: Application to Spatial Distribution Mapping of Metabolites Along the Biosynthetic Cascade Leading to Synthesis of Atropine and Scopolamine in Plant Tissue

  
Date Created: September 22, 2017
    
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