Bloomington Leader

Amar Flood, a professor in the College of Arts and Sciences' Department of Chemistry at Indiana University Bloomington, has made a significant breakthrough in creating the world's brightest fluorescent materials. The discovery, known as small molecule, ionic isolation lattices (SMILES), is the result of curiosity and collaboration with former colleague Bo Laursen from the University of Copenhagen.

SMILES emit fluorescent light at nearly 30,000 brightness units. This advancement came about through research involving the interaction of negatively charged anions and positively charged fluorescent cations. “It was like the joy of children on the playground,” Flood said about the collaboration.

Flood's research began nearly 20 years ago with an exploration of anion recognition, where a receptor binds to negatively charged molecules. Through click chemistry, he and his team developed a molecular receptor known as the cyanostar. This eventually led to the accidental discovery of SMILES.

These materials absorb ultraviolet light, producing a neon glow without the use of electricity, unlike traditional lightbulbs. The brightness stems from a “molecular glue” that tightly packs dye molecules in a checkerboard lattice. The primary component of this glue, cyanostars, was first synthesized by Flood's lab in 2013.

Flood highlights the potential applications of this discovery, including in medical devices to assist with disease diagnoses. An example given is labeling cancerous tumors to allow surgeons to see the affected areas under ultraviolet light. The technology might also enhance everyday devices, suggesting the possibility of using phones with enhanced functionalities similar to microscopes. “We can disrupt a lot of technologies,” Flood stated.

The technology has been protected and patented with the help of the IU Innovation and Commercialization Office. Flood's startup, Halophore, co-founded with his former graduate student Chris Benson and Laursen, is working to commercialize the discovery. “ICO is really supportive of faculty-driven activities,” Flood acknowledged as Halophore collaborates with medical device companies to bring the technology to market.