SBIR-STTR Award

Organic optical brighteners function by absorbing UV wavelengths and fluorescing visible light. When wavelengths of the entire visible spectrum are emitted, white light is the resultant color. Specific organic optical brighteners have been used in limited military applications. Some biological compounds will also fluoresce when interrogated by UV sources. More specifically , materials such as porphyrin-based chromophores, when interrogated by a 355 nm wavelength source, such as a UV laser, will flouresce at a specific wavelength. This wavelength can then be readily discerned with night vision goggles, if observed at close distance, or can also be observed by a color camera at distances up to 2 kilometers. The unique wavelength properties of selective chromophores make them excellent candidates for detection systems. Such detection systems could be utilized by U.S. forces for area denial,, friend/foe identification badges and environmental obscurants. However, the biologically active materials also possess inherent instability properties and are degraded by oxygen, water, sunlight and heat. The present SBIR program proposes to stabilize the chromophores using proprietary delivery system technologies so that the cited military applications can be effectively developed.

Benefits:
Security Equipment, Product Tampering Indicater, Intrusion Detection, Personnel Security

Keywords:
Delivery Systems, Detection, Tagging, Tracking, Ultraviolet, Chromophore, Security, Laser

Some biological compounds will fluoresce when interrogated by an ultraviolet source. A specific and unique porphyrin-based chromophore (PBC) is excited at a wavelength of 355 nm and fluoresces at a visible wavelength of 610 nm. The reflected wavelength can be readily observed using standard Night Vision Goggles. Although the PBC putty is inherently unstable, preliminary processes have been developed during a SBIR Phase I program. The successful research allows the technology to be potentially utilized for various military and commercial security applications. During the Phase II program, a functional primary delivery system will be developed and demonstrated. The delivery system configuration will be specifically designed for utilization in military perimeter security applications. A secondary delivery system will also be preliminarily developed for battlefield dissemination of the PBC-based technology