ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Monofunctional curcumin analogues: evaluation of green and safe developers of latent fingerprints

Bruna S. Pacheco, Caroline C. Da Silva, Bruno N. Da Rosa, Kristiane C. Mariotti, Caroline Nicolodi, Taís Poletti, Natália V. Segatto, Tiago Collares, Fabiana K. Seixas, Oscar Paniz, Neftali Lenin Vilarreal Carreño, and Claudio M. P. Pereira

Laboratory of Lipidomics and Bioorganic, Bioforensic Research Group, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil

E-mail: pacheco.sbruna@gmail.com

Received: 12 May 2020  Accepted: 3 February 2021

Abstract:

Fingerprint development is one of the most useful techniques in forensic investigation. The powder method is widely used, as it consists of a non-destructive testing. However, some of the powders commonly used are toxic and dangerous to human health. In this sense, monofunctional analogues of curcumin (3a–e) are proposed as novel coloring powders for the development of latent fingerprints. Granulometric and scanning electron microscopy analysis were performed for a better understanding of the interaction between developers and substrates. The best results for the development of fingerprints were obtained with compound (1E,4E)-1,5-di-p-tolylpenta-1,4-dien-3-one (3b). Development with this compound was specific and allowed detection both from male and female donors. Also, in an in vitro experiment, compound 3b presented low cytotoxicity in a mammalian cell line. Based on that, a novel alternative for latent fingerprint developers was proposed.

Keywords: Fingermark; Forensic; Forensic materials; Curcumin derivatives

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-021-01556-4

Chemical Papers 75 (7) 3119–3129 (2021)