DIC Corporation announced that its near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent dye and a polymer compounding this dye have been chosen for use in BrightMarkers, invisible fluorescent tags developed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers that are embedded in physical objects to enhance motion tracking, virtual reality (VR) and object detection. MIT is expected to introduce its BrightMarker technology at the User Interface Software and Technology Symposium (UIST) 2023, a top-tier user interface conference, which will be held in the United States in autumn 2023.

Common applications for NIR fluorescent dyes include bioimaging (a method for visualizing and analyzing cellular processes, among others), but these dyes are not commonly used in fluorescent polymers because of heat resistance and compatibility issues. DIC’s NIR fluorescent dye boasts a variety of unique properties that set it apart from other products on the market. The company has collaborated with several academic institutions and other companies to develop technologies using its NIR fluorescent dye that have contributed to advances in the field of medical operation, as well as to the resolution of key social imperatives.

The NRI dye plays a crucial role in the printing of information patterns such as QR codes as fluorescent tags in the new technology BrightMarker developed by MIT, as it can be mixed and molded into resin filaments for 3D printers. BrightMarkers emit light at an NIR wavelength, meaning they are imperceptible to the naked eye and thus do not alter the object’s appearance or other properties. Because the tags are only viewable using an infrared camera, it is possible to embed highly confidential information without risk of tampering.

In its DIC Vision 2030 long-term management plan, the DIC Group has identified “Smart living” as one of the priority business areas that will contribute to greater digitalization and is focusing particularly on the expansion of its functional materials portfolio.