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SMARTchromoPOLICE: A Complexity-free And Cost Effective Chromatography–Based Forensic Investigational Tool For The Resource-poor Settings
Aboubakar YARI1*; and Venus YARI 1.
Biotech tropicana, Inc, Parakou, Benin
*Corresponding Author: Aboubakar YARI, Bioteh tropicana, Inc, 02 Po Box 1038, Parakou, Benin Republic, e-mail: ayari@biotechtropicana.com
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Citation: Aboubakar YARI and Venus YARI: SMARTchromoPOLICE: A Complexity-Free And Cost Effective Chromatography –Based Forensic Investigational Tool For The Resource-poor Settings. Biotech Tropicana Journal (2009), 1(1):25-37
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Keywords: Chromatography; Forensic Science; Resource-Poor Settings
Published Online November 22, 2OO9
Abstract:
Background:
Chromatography (from Greek χρώμα:chroma, color and γραφειν:graphein to write) is the collective term for a set of laboratory techniques for the separation of mixtures. It involves passing a mixture dissolved in a "mobile phase" through a stationary phase, which separates the analyte to be measured from other molecules in the mixture based on differential partitioning between the mobile and stationary phases. Subtle differences in compounds partition coefficient results in differential retention on the stationary phase and thus changing the separation. Chromatography may be preparative or analytical. The purpose of preparative chromatography is to separate the components of a mixture for further use (and is thus a form of purification). Analytical chromatography is done normally with smaller amounts of material and is for measuring the relative proportions of analytes in a mixture. The two are not mutually exclusive. [1]
The word forensic comes from the Latin adjective forensis, meaning "of or before the forum". In Roman times, a criminal charge meant presenting the case before a group of public individuals in the forum. Both the person accused of the crime and the accuser would give speeches based on their side of the story. The individual with the best argument and delivery would determine the outcome of the case. Basically, the person with the sharpest forensic skills would win. This origin is the source of the two modern usages of the word forensic – as a form of legal evidence and as a category of public presentation. In modern use, the term "forensics" in place of "forensic science" can be considered incorrect as the term "forensic" is effectively a synonym for "legal" or "related to courts". However, the term is now so closely associated with the scientific field that many dictionaries include the meaning that equates the word "forensics" with "forensic science". Forensic science (often shortened to forensics) is the application of a broad spectrum of sciences to answer questions of interest to a legal system. This may be in relation to a crime or a civil action. Besides its relevance to a legal system, more generally forensics encompasses the accepted scholarly or scientific methodology and norms under which the facts regarding an event, or an artifact, or some other physical item (such as a corpse) are ascertained as being the case. In that regard the concept is related to the notion of authentication, whereby an interest outside of a legal form exists in determining whether an object is what it purports to be, or is alleged as being. [2]
To the forensic chemist, preparative chromatography may mean the isolation of only a few microgram of material for structure elucidation by subsequent spectroscopic examination. [3] The preparative chromatography step for isolation, followed by an analytic chromatography step for structure and/or concentration determination as performed in the developed world, may not be suitable for the developing world. The developed world approach would require the use of complex and expensive technologies. [4;5]
To reduce cost and complexity, and promote the widespread application of forensic chromatography in the resource-poor settings, Biotech tropicana, Inc designs SMARTchromoPOLICE. We previously proposed a "three tests " combo kit model for improving HIV patient monitoring standards in the resource-poor settings: SMARThivPACK. [6] In designing our SMARThivPACK we applied the general Biotech tropicana, Inc technology development guidelines, to promote transfer of essential technologies to the resource-poor settings. COST must be adapted to the scarcity of resources in the resource-poor settings, particularly with respect to the long term implementation of a technology in these settings. The one time purchasing cost is in most cases covered by the international assistance programs from the developed world public sector. The implementation cost factor in technology transfer to the resource-poor settings was previously discussed, with respect to viral load monitoring of HIV patients, in the resource-poor settings. [7] COMPLEXITY must be adapted to low level expertise characteristic of the resource-poor settings. Test QUALITY must be maintained or improved. [8, bti website] We design SMARTchromoPOLICE by adhering to the same simple applied to SMARThivPACK. Consistent with Biotech tropicana, Inc technology development guidelines, we innovate two major advancements to paper chromatography to permit its forensic application in the resource-poor settings: 1) Comparative analysis of the paper chromatographic technique. The test of the sample is red against a negative control. A positive (+) sample will produce a chromatogram containing a colored band of a suspected contaminant. The contaminant characteristic colored band will be missing in the negative (-) control. 2) Control settings. We set the control so as to favor repetitive examination of the sample.
Materials
Paper coffee filters
• One black permanent pen • Black water soluble pens • Container full of water • Several sheets of paper • Small glasses or plastic containers • Isopropyl rubbing alcohol* • Pencils • Tape • Scissors • Stapler Samples [9] Methodology
The major drawback of our system is the lack of standard negative control that should contain all the ingredients in the sample, but the contaminants. A suspect contaminating a food material, for the purpose to cause harm may not prepare a control food without the contaminant. Furthermore, if such a negative control exists the suspect will likely destroy the evidence to hide his crime. To overcome the lack of negative control, we design our experiment as to repeat the testing of the suspected material several times. Repetition is a requirement for a designed experiment to comply with scientific methods. Our system comports two (2) main steps: 1) a preparative paper chromatography of the sample material in five (5) identical copies, 2) a preparative paper chromatography of the sample against each control in five (5) identical copies. Control samples of the same food are collected form five (5) different sources.
Expected Results
1) First preparative paper chromatography, should yield five (5) chromatograms displaying the same colored band profile, S1-S5.
2) Second preparative chromatography, should yield chromatograms with the following colored band profiles: a) Control A yielding chromatogram A against the five(5) samples of the suspected material, yielding chromatograms S1-S5 b) Control B yielding chromatogram B against the five(5) samples of the suspected material, yielding chromatograms S1-S5 c) Control C yielding chromatogram C against the five(5) samples of the suspected material, yielding chromatograms S1-S5 d) Control D yielding chromatogram A against the five(5) samples of the suspected material, yielding chromatograms S1-S5 e) Control E yielding chromatogram A against the five(5) samples of the suspected material, yielding chromatograms S1-S5
Discussion:
To obviate the use of complex an expensive analytical materials such as spectrophotometer and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) system, we design a duplicate simple preparative paper chromatography protocol, for comparative analysis. The chromatography output of the suspected sample from the crime scene is compared to the output of a control. We apply our system to investigate food contaminants. The suspected contaminated food may be easily collected from the crime scene. However, the control may not be available. A representative control should contain all the ingredients in the suspected food, but the contaminants. To establish credibility of our SMARTchromoPOLICE system for use in forensic investigation, we innovate a protocol for setting a valid control. In lieu of a single (1) control against a single (1) sample material, our system uses five (5) controls of the same food, but of different sources against a single (1) sample of suspected material. Because the five (5) controls are of different origins, the chromatograms of the controls may be different. However the characteristic colored ("chromo”) band of the contaminants will be present in the 5 chromatograms of the suspected sample and will be missing in the 5 chromatograms of the controls. The chemical nature and or the concentration of the suspected colored band in the suspected sample may be determined using analytical chromatography techniques. However, an additional analytical step would raise the cost and the complexity of the tests by requiring different materials and skills. [10; 11] To reduce cost and complexity, while complying with applicable scientific standards, our system comports two (2) preparative chromatography steps, in lieu of one (1) preparative step and on (1) analytical step. The one (1) steps preparative chromatography and one (1) analytical chromatography would be more sensitive than our two (2) steps preparative chromatography methods. However, for forensic food analysis , the purpose is to determine the presence or absence of a suspected harmful coumpound in the sample not necessary the chemical nature of the coumpound, that may be essential for medical purpose. When read in connection with other forensic data ("POLICE”), the chromatogram from our SMARTchromoPOLICE is sufficient to establish criminal activity. The simplicity and low cost of SMARTchromoPOLICE made the technique applicable even in household settings. A coffee paper, water glass, and alcohol, the essential materials for application of SMARTchromoPOLICE , and the accessory materials as indicated in the material section above may be purchased for lee than $5 USD. The system may be executed in a regular household dinning room table.
From its ancient Roman forum origins to contemporary sophisticated forensic laboratories, forensic sciences have undergone remarkable development. Forensics evolved from small law enforcement laboratories, like the 1932 FBI laboratory, [12] to institutionalization in academic programs like the George Washington University forensic program [13] and commercialization in private forensic companies. [14] The science of forensics got out of the laboratory to the general public with highly publicized trials like the 1994 OJ SIMPSON case in the United States. [15] and the Elizabeth HURLEY 2002 paternity case in the United Kingdom [16] Compared to contemporary classical chromatographic analysis systems designed to not only identify the presence of a compound, but also to determine its nature and or its concentration, our SMARTchromoPOLICE is limited to a qualitative analysis to determine the presence or absence of a compound in a sample. However, the "simplicity” and the "low cost” of our system permit its widespread use, in resource poor settings settings. We predict that the commodity of acquisition and use of our system could promote a culture of application of forensic principles, in resource-poor communities, where superstitions are still deeply rooted. In most communities, many "mysterious” deaths are still easily attributed to the wrath of an ancestral spirit. (Aboubakar YARI, personal investigations). Considering the potential of our system in promoting the development of forensic science in the resource-poor settings, we conclude that our system is beyond merely satisfactory, but excellent. Our system is far more sophisticated than the 1932 J. Edgar HOOVER’s "cutting edge” FBI forensic lab with a single agent, a borrowed microscope, and a scientifically dubious helixometer. [17] The scientific merit of paper chromatography technology, on which our SMARTchromoPOLICE relied, is well established. Furthermore , FBI’s HOOVER optimistic philosophy about his laboratory supports our philosophy on developmental growth impact of our technology on forensic sciences in the resource poor settings. Edgar HOOVER’s single microscope laboratory is today the "cutting edge” forensic laboratory with established authority that demonstrated its capacity to solve the most complex criminal cases, using scientific methods. [18]
Conclusion:
We design a chromatography-based "simple” and "cheap” enough forensic investigation system for widespread use in the resource-poor settings: SMARTchromoPOLICE. The simplicity of acquisition and low cost of SMARTchromoPOLICE could promote further development of forensic sciences in the resource-poor settings.
Footnotes:
The current publication is a technically simplified reader friendly version description of SMARTchromoPOLICE. A scientifically advanced with more details on technical features of SMARTchromoPOLICE is under development at Biotech tropicana, Inc for submission for publication in peer review scientific journals.
Competing interests:
Aboubakar YARI and Venus YARI have no affiliations with other commercial organizations that may have interests related to the content of this article.
Acknowledgements
This work was supported with funds from Biotech tropicana Corporation
References:
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