Highly Sensitive and Specific Nanofibrous Sorbent for Forensic Applications

Nanofibrous collectors made of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) and polycaprolactone (PCL) polymers were developed and evaluated as a novel alternative for forensic odor trace collection. Laboratory experiments revealed a significantly higher sensitivity of nanofibrous collectors to human odor imprints compared with currently used textile materials, as well as distinct adsorption behaviors of nanofibers made from different polymers toward molecules of diverse origin. In addition, nanofibrous collectors can be simultaneously utilized for both olfactory (canine-based) and instrumental (olfactronic) analyses. The application of nanofibrous collectors in combination with simultaneous EEG signal monitoring of working dogs may contribute to improving the objectivity and evidential reliability of canine olfactory identification, although further validation is required before such methods can be considered for legal use.