Neutron diffraction investigation of shear forces on triacylglycerols for forensic application

Project Member(s): Stuart, B., Thomas, P.

Funding or Partner Organisation: Australian Institute of Nuclear Science & Engineering (AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING)
The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (Bragg Institute)

Start year: 2014

Summary: The project emerged as a result of collaborative work between the Centre for Forensic Science at UTS and the Department of Forensic Medicine at Westmead Hospital. The unusual appearance of crystalline fat structures were observed during the post-mortem examination of a motor vehicle accident victim in 2006. The crystal structures were characterised using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction. The structures were found to be made of triacylglycerols, a dominant lipid structure found in human adipose tissue and capable of forming various polymorphic structures. The accelerated growth of a specific triacylglycerol morphology was proposed to be a result of shear stresses. The aim of this study is to monitor the formation of model triacylglycerol crystallinity during controlled shear stress experiments. The use of neutron diffraction will enable the polymorphic structures to be more clearly characterised. An understanding of the effect of forces on the structure of body fat in high impact collisions can potentially assist in verifying a high velocity impact.

Publications:

Maynard-Casely, HE, Booth, N, Leung, AE, Stuart, BH & Thomas, PS 2019, 'Potential of neutron powder diffraction for the study of solid triacylglycerols', Food Structure, vol. 22, pp. 100124-100124.
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Stuart, BH, Maynard-Casely, HE, Booth, N, Leung, AE & Thomas, PS 2019, 'Neutron diffraction of deuterated tripalmitin and the influence of shear on its crystallisation', Chemistry and Physics of Lipids, vol. 221, pp. 108-113.
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Booth, N, Stuart, B, Thomas, P & Maynard-Casely, H 1970, 'Rheo-ND: Temperature and shear induced crystal transformation of a model triglyceride observed using neutron diffraction', Neutrons and Foods 5, Sydney.

Maynard-Casely, H, Stuart, B, Thomas, P & Booth, N 1970, 'Rheo-ND: Temperature and shear induced crystal transformation of a model triglyceride observed using neutron diffraction', 2018 ANBUG-AINSE Neutron Scattering Symposium, Sydney.

Booth, N, Davidson, G, Imperia, P, Lee, S, Stuart, B, Thomas, P, Komatsu, K, Yamane, R, Prescott, SW, Maynard-Casely, HE, Nelson, A & Rule, KC 2017, 'Three impossible things before lunch – the task of a sample environment specialist', Journal of Neutron Research, vol. 19, no. 1-2, pp. 49-56.
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Booth, N, Imperia, P, Davidson, G, Lee, S, Stuart, B, Thomas, P, Komatsu, K, Yamane, R, Prescott, S, Maynard-Casely, H & Nelson, A 1970, 'Three impossible things before lunch or that sounds challenging, you want it when?', 9th International Workshop on Sample Environment at Scattering Facilities, Gettysburg.

Stuart, B, Thomas, P, Maynard-Casely, H, Booth, N & Leung, A 1970, 'A neutron diffraction investigation of shear forces on a model lipid for forensic application', ANZFSS 23rd International Symposium on the Forensic Sciences, Auckland.

Keywords: neutron diffraction, triacylglycerols, shear stress, crystallinity

FOR Codes: Forensic Chemistry, Law Enforcement

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.