RT Journal Article
T1 Partners in postmortem interval estimation: X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform spectroscopy
A1 Rubio-Lamia, Leticia Olga
A1 Suárez-Pérez, Juan
A1 Martín-de-las-Heras, Stella
A1 Zapico, Sara C.
K1 Medicina legal
K1 Muerte (Biología) - Datación
K1 Dientes - Composición
K1 Odontología
AB The postmortem interval (PMI) is difficult to estimate in later stages of decomposition. There is therefore a need to develop reliable methodologies to estimate late PMI. This study aims to assess whether there is a correlation between changes in the mineral composition of human teeth and the estimation of PMI. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy techniques were performed to address this challenge. Forty healthy human teeth obtained from odontological clinics were stored at different times (0, 10, 25, 50 years; N = 10/group). XRD and ATR-FTIR parameters related to the structure and composition of teeth were studied. Our results showed that the crystallinity index, crystal size index, mineral-to-organic matrix ratio (M/M) and carbonate/phosphate ratio (C/P) had the strongest association with PMI. For larger PMIs, there was a significant increase in crystallinity, crystal size and M/M ratio, while the C/P ratio showed a specific decrease with increasing PMI. According to our results, the parameters of crystallinity, crystal size, M/M ratio and C/P ratio can be considered highly accurate in determining a PMI of 10 years of data; crystallinity and mineral maturity can be considered useful in determining a PMI of 25 years; and crystallinity and mineral maturity can be considered highly accurate in determining a PMI of 50 years. A particular XRD index was identified as the most suitable parameter to estimate PMI: crystallinity. The joint use of XRD and ATR-FTIR analyses could be a promising alternative for dating human teeth.
PB MDPI
YR 2023
FD 2023-04-05
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10630/27011
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10630/27011
LA eng
NO Rubio L, Suárez J, Martin-de-las-Heras S, Zapico SC. Partners in Postmortem Interval Estimation: X-ray Diffraction and Fourier Transform Spectroscopy. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2023; 24(7):6793. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24076793
NO This research was funded by Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program, United States Department of State and Ministerio de Educación y Formación Profesional, Grant Numbers: L.R.: CAS21/00169 and J.S.: PRX21/00439. This work was also supported by Universidad de Málaga, Grant Number: PPIT.UMA.B1.2020/20.Partial funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málaga
DS RIUMA. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Málaga
RD 4 mar 2026