Beyond Identification: MALDI-MS Fingerprint Analysis for Aging, Lifestyle, and Personal Profiling

Fingerprint analysis remains the most widely used biometric method for suspect identification, supported by strong legal and scientific validation, extensive databases, and its low cost and operational efficiency. However, conventional fingerprint evidence often yields limited results due to partial, distorted, or smudged impressions and uncertainty regarding the time of deposition. Chemical analysis offers additional insights but is constrained by the low sensitivity of GC–MS, surface contamination, and the inability to effectively analyze non-volatile compounds.
Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry (MALDI–MS) has emerged as a promising approach to overcome these limitations. Our previous work demonstrated that MALDI–MS is compatible with standard forensic procedures and can reveal lifestyle-associated molecular features from fingerprint residues. We also showed that fingerprint aging can be investigated through ambient ozonolysis processes.
In this presentation, we will highlight our recent studies on MALDI–MS fingerprint analysis, focusing on the mechanisms and kinetics of ambient aging, the influence of individual lipid composition on degradation, and the application of machine learning to classify physical activity levels based on fingerprint lipid profiles. These findings expand the forensic potential of fingerprints from traditional identification toward broader personal and temporal profiling.