Edible NIR QR Code Taggants for Ingestible Product Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for authenticating ingestible products at the individual dose level are limited by material safety concerns, scalability issues, and vulnerability to counterfeiting, particularly as they rely on external packaging that becomes ineffective when products are separated from this packaging.
Innovation Solution
A method involving edible and biologically safe inks and substrates for inkjet printing, specifically using FDA-approved food coloring and near-infrared (NIR) dyes like IR820, to create a camouflaged QR code taggant that can be printed directly onto ingestible products or onto a substrate affixed to them, enabling authentication through a smartphone QR code scanner.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional QR codes are printed on ingestible products using visible inks, then authentication is possible, but the QR codes are easily duplicated and copied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by using NIR-absorbing inks that are invisible to the human eye but detectable by NIR scanners. The QR code appears black to human eyes (maximizing contrast) but absorbs NIR light, creating a distinguishable pattern that is difficult to replicate without the specific NIR-absorbing material. This optical property change enhances security while maintaining manufacturability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining NIR-absorbing dyes with food-grade carriers and binders to create ink formulations that are both safe for ingestion and secure for authentication. The composite ink system integrates multiple functional components: NIR-absorbing chromophores, food-safe carriers, and adhesive binders, creating a material that cannot be easily replicated by simple copying.
2Reliability
If materials are used for on-dose authentication that are not easily accessible or scalable, then authentication security is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the concentration and molecular structure of NIR-absorbing dyes to achieve the right balance between security and scalability. By adjusting the dye concentration in the ink formulation, the patent ensures sufficient NIR absorption for security while maintaining material availability and scalability for mass production. The parameter optimization makes the authentication system both secure and manufacturable.
3Reliability
If existing on-dose technologies are used, then authentication is possible, but the materials may not be safe for oral intake due to cytotoxicity and endocrine-disrupting properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the principle of using safe, biodegradable materials that can be disposed of harmlessly after serving their authentication function. The ink formulations use food-grade carriers and binders that are non-toxic and edible, eliminating the need for complex removal or disposal procedures. The temporary nature of the ink coating (which can be washed off or degraded) ensures that no harmful materials remain in the ingestible product.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the ink materials to ensure biocompatibility. By selecting NIR-absorbing dyes and carriers that are food-grade and non-cytotoxic, the patent eliminates harmful effects while maintaining authentication capability. The parameter changes in material selection and concentration ensure safety for oral intake without compromising the authentication function.
4Reliability
If exterior box-level protection is used for anticounterfeit measures, then supply chain protection is improved, but the protection becomes useless when medicines are separated into individual doses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by moving the authentication feature from the macro level (exterior box) to the micro level (individual dose). Each individual medicine unit receives its own QR code taggant applied directly to the dose level, enabling independent authentication of each unit. This segmentation allows the system to provide both supply chain protection and individual dose verification without requiring separation from packaging.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning from two-dimensional packaging labels to three-dimensional applied coatings on the actual dose surface. The QR code taggant is applied as a coating layer on the medicine surface, creating a new dimensional layer that remains with the product through packaging separation. This dimensional transition enables authentication to follow the product through the supply chain from bulk packaging to individual doses.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The proposed solution provides a robust and secure method for authenticating individual ingestible products, ensuring biocompatibility and safety while enhancing security against counterfeiting by utilizing invisible NIR patterns that can only be read under NIR illumination.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing invisible NIR patterns that can only be read under NIR illumination
Data Source
AI summary
A method of providing an edible printer dye for use as a predetermined pattern including a stealth quick response (QR) code taggant for an ingestible food or pharmaceutical product includes dissolving one or more edible infrared (IR) or near IR (NIR) light absorbing dyes in a carrier solution based on a predetermined concentration of the one or more IR or NIR light absorbing dyes, thereby generating an IR or NIR light absorbing dye solution, adding a mixture of dispersing agents to the dye solution, thereby generating an edible IR or NIR light absorbing dyes, loading the edible IR or NIR light absorbing dyes in any one of a printer cannisters, and loading other visible edible dyes in corresponding other printer cannisters.