RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY FOR POST-MORTEM INTERVAL ESTIMATION OF HUMAN SKELETAL REMAINS: A SCOPING REVIEW.

Estimating post-mortem intervals (PMI) is crucial in forensic investigations, providing insights into criminal cases and determining the time of death. PMI estimation relies on expert experience and a combination of thanatological data and environmental factors but is prone to errors. The lack of reliable methods for assessing PMI in bones and soft tissues necessitates a better understanding of bone decomposition. Several research groups have shown promise in PMI estimation in skeletal remains but lack valid data for forensic cases. Current methods are costly, time-consuming, and unreliable for PMIs over five years. Raman spectroscopy (RS) can potentially estimate PMI by studying chemical modifications in bones and teeth correlated with burial time. This review summarizes RS applications, highlighting its potential as an innovative, non-destructive, and fast technique for PMI estimation in forensic medicine. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.