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Forensic science relies on sensitive, selective, and reliable detection of trace evidence, often present in minute quantities within complex matrices. Traditional techniques, despite being well-established, are costly, time-consuming, and poorly suited for on-site analysis. Nanotechnology leverages unique physicochemical properties-high surface-to-volume ratio, quantum confinement, tunable optical/electronic behavior, and surface functionalization-to enhance forensic detection of drugs, explosives, gunshot residues, toxicants, DNA, and latent fingerprints. This review critically evaluates the mechanistic foundations, comparative performance, and translational potential of noble metal nanoparticles, carbon-based nanostructures, semiconductor quantum dots, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), and hybrid nano-composites. We discuss their roles in optical, electrochemical, catalytic, and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based systems, emphasizing field-deployable platforms, microfluidic integration, and portable devices. Key challenges including reproducibility, stability, safety, and legal admissibility are highlighted, providing a roadmap for next-generation forensic tools that bridge laboratory innovation with real-world applicability.
Pandey et al. (Sat,) studied this question.