Hydrogel-Enabled Capture of Latent DNA and Biomarkers from Touch and Trace Evidence

About the Project

Trace biological residues from casual contact, such as sweat and epithelial cells, contain valuable DNA and molecular biomarkers for forensic investigations. However, conventional collection methods like swabbing often show low recovery efficiency and may cause degradation or contamination of minimal samples. This project aims to develop biodegradable polymer-based hydrogels for efficient capture and preservation of latent DNA and trace biomarkers from touch evidence. Using biopolymers such as carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and chitosan, the study will design tunable hydrogel systems with enhanced adsorption capacity and biomolecule stability. By integrating polymer chemistry and forensic science, the project seeks to improve trace evidence recovery and provide a novel, non-destructive forensic sampling technology.

Main Supervisor: Associate Professor Pushpamalar Janarthanan, Monash University

Associate Supervisors: Dr. Ang Chee Wei, Professor Wu Ta Yeong