Abstract

This dissertation is divided into two independent research projects. First, condom lubricants, sexual lubricants, and personal hygiene products (PHPs) were studied using direct analysis in real time-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (DART-TOFMS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The purpose addressed the concern of perpetrators resorting to new tactics, i.e. using condoms to remove seminal fluid that could provide a DNA link to a suspect, leading to the need of the consideration of condom lubricants as pieces of sexual assault evidence. Due to condom lubricants having a chemical composition resembling PHPs, the investigation of both sample groups was analyzed to prevent false positives. Although past research has focused on the identification of major lubricant groups and additives, the discernment between such samples is insufficient. The discriminatory capability and rapid analysis of samples using DART-TOFMS was illustrated through resolution among the sample groups and higher classification rates. Here, lubricant analysis was introduced as a viable source of evidence, with a scheme detailing their discrimination from common hygiene products using DART-TOFMS as a robust tool for the analysis of sexual assault evidence. Second, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS), Ultraviolet-Visible spectroscopy (UV-VIS), dark field Imaging (DFM), and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Following characterization, AuNPs were used in protein adsorption study from blood serum concentration and to observe how the differences in their characterization affected their interactions with blood serum proteins. AuNPs are an interest in the bioanalytical sector due to their optical properties, scattering of light, and high surface-to-volume ratio. A common issue plagues the field: the difficulty of inter/intra laboratory reproducibility from one characterization technique. This further affects the understanding of how AuNPs may react for diagnostic and other applications. The importance of a comprehensive characterization protocol for AuNP products and the need for manufacturers to include product specifications is demonstrated in this study.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2019

Semester

Fall

Advisor

Huo, Qun

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Sciences

Department

Chemistry

Degree Program

Chemistry

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0007842

URL

http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0007842

Language

English

Release Date

December 2022

Length of Campus-only Access

3 years

Access Status

Doctoral Dissertation (Open Access)

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Included in

Chemistry Commons

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