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Pyrene-pyridoxine azine as a functional fluorophore: developing LFPs and formulating security ink

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Abstract

A biocompatible fluorescent pigment, pyrene-pyridoxine azine (PyPy) derivative, has been designed that can display a vivid yellow hue under natural daylight and a cyano-green luminescence when exposed to UV light in solution. Interestingly, the same compound manifests a rich yellow color along with red fluorescence when integrated into solid-supported materials, like porous papers. Moreover, PyPy exhibits robust adherence to the paper surface, rapid drying, reasonable photostability, and considerable resistance to water, which can be considered advantageous for security-ink application. These observations strongly suggest that this probing molecule holds potential as a functional and environmentally friendly colorant for crafting water-based ink via flexography printing. Further, the notable high intensity of fluorescence, coupled with outstanding surface adhesion characteristics, facilitated the development of latent fingerprints (LFPs). These fingerprints, when illuminated, produce fluorescence images that offer distinct background contrast, thereby unveiling intricate level 1, level 2, and level 3 details on non-porous substrates that aid in individual identification. Moreover, the ink formulation of PyPy facilitated the identification of primary and secondary-level finger-mark details on both porous and non-porous surfaces. These results effectively showcase the successful utilization of the biocompatible PyPy fluorophore in fingerprint analysis, eliminating the necessity for additional adhesives and introducing a promising new tool for LFP detection.

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All data reported in this manuscript are available on request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India

    Dhanya Sunil, Rakshitha K. Jain & Kashmitha Muthamma

  2. Department of Chemistry, Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Hyderabad, Telanga, na-500078, India

    Rikitha S. Fernandes & Nilanjan Dey

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  1. Dhanya Sunil
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Contributions

The author (RSF) confirms the responsibility for the following: synthesis of compound and characterization, biocompatibility assay.

The authors (RKJ and KM) confirm the responsibility for the following: investigation, data collection, and validation of security ink formulation and LFP development studies.

The author (DS) confirms the responsibility for supervision, and writing—review and editing of security ink formulation and LFP development studies.

The author (ND) confirms the responsibility for the following: conceptualization, formal analysis, project administration, resources, software, supervision, visualization, writing—original draft, writing—review and editing of synthesis of compound, characterization, and biocompatibility assay.

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Correspondence to Nilanjan Dey.

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Sunil, D., Jain, R.K., Muthamma, K. et al. Pyrene-pyridoxine azine as a functional fluorophore: developing LFPs and formulating security ink. emergent mater. 7, 299–310 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42247-023-00594-w

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