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                            Funding & Awards
 Detection and identification of hair dyes directly at a crime scene by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)
Award Information
Awardee
              TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE RESEARCH
Award #
              15PNIJ-21-GG-04169-RESS
Funding Category
              Competitive Discretionary
Location
                    COLLEGE STATION, TX
Awardee County
              Brazos
Congressional District
              10
Status
              Open
Funding First Awarded
              2021
Total funding (to date)
              $368,745
Original Solicitation
              Research  and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes, Fiscal Year 2021
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2021, $368,745)
Hair is one of the most common types of physical evidence found at a crime scene. Forensic examination may suggest a connection between a suspect and a crime scene or a victim, or demonstrate an absence of such associations. Therefore, forensic analysis of hair evidence is invaluable to criminal investigations. Current hair forensic examinations are primarily based on a subjective microscopic comparison of hair found at the crime scene with a sample of suspect’s hair. Since this is often inconclusive, development of alternative and more accurate hair analysis techniques are critical. We propose to develop the use of Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) for label-free, non-invasive, non-destructive and confirmatory detection and identification of artificial dyes directly on hair. Our preliminary results show that SERS is capable of identifying whether the hair is dyed or not, distinguish between permanent and semipermanent dyes, as well as different commercial brands of colorants directly on hair. Expanding upon this discovery, we propose to develop the use of SERS for (1) identification whether hair is re-dyed by synthetic permanent, semi-permanent or natural dyes, (2) determination of how many dyes are simultaneously present on hair and (3) what colorant was applied first and what colorant was used to re-dye hair. We will also build spectroscopic library of dyes that can be used to (4) distinguish between commercial brands of colorants. The spectroscopic library will be available for forensic experts in the U.S. Lastly, we propose to (4) develop a SERS Kit that will enable confirmatory on-site SERS analysis of hair.



  
Grant-Funded Publications
        
                      Near-infrared Excitation Raman Analysis of Underlying Colorants on Redyed Fabric
                  Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy is capable of precise differentiation between re-dyed hair samples
                  The effects of sun exposure on colorant identification of permanently and semi-permanently dyed hair
                  Role of Race/Ethnicity, Sex, and Age in Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy- and Infrared Spectroscopy-Based Analysis of Artificial Colorants on Hair
                  Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy enables confirmatory detection of dyes on hair submerged in hypolimnion water for up to twelve weeks
                  Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy enables highly accurate identification of different brands, types and colors of hair dyes
                  Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy hair analysis after household contamination
                  Effects of crime scene contaminants on surface-enhanced Raman analysis of hair

  
Date Created: December 9, 2021
    
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                      Rapid screening and identification of fentanyl in drug mixtures using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy
                  Developing a Strategy to Evaluate Urban Violence Prevention and Intervention Ecosystems: A Case Study of Boston
                  Recovery and Analysis of Less Volatile Components for the Identification of Ignitable Liquid Residues in Fire Debris - Continuation of current NIJ-funded project (2020-DQ-BX-0003)
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