Edible Silk-Protein PUF Authentication for Individual Doses
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing counterfeit medicine detection technologies are symmetric and can be easily duplicated, lacking robust asymmetric authentication methods that ensure authenticity at the individual dose level, especially for pharmaceuticals.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing edible physically unclonable functions (PUFs) based on silk proteins with randomly distributed fluorescent particles, generating unique challenge-response pairs through optical excitation and image processing to create cryptographic keys for authentication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional analytical chemistry and spectroscopy technologies are used to detect counterfeit medicines, then chemical signatures of major ingredients can be identified, but the techniques require sophisticated and expensive machines and have limited accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical spectroscopy systems with a simplified optical imaging system using a smartphone camera. Instead of using sophisticated machines for chemical signature detection, the invention uses light interaction with fluorescent particles embedded in the medicine, captured through a standard camera, substituting complex mechanical detection with optical imaging and computational analysis
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection parameter from chemical composition analysis to optical fluorescence pattern recognition. By embedding fluorescent particles that emit specific patterns when excited by light, the system transforms the detection basis from chemical signatures to optical parameters, enabling accurate authentication with simpler equipment
2Reliability
If marking and printing technologies are used on medicine surfaces, then authentication features can be added, but the techniques are prone to duplication by counterfeiters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds fluorescent particles within the medicine matrix or coating, nesting the authentication feature inside the medicine itself rather than on the surface. This nested structure makes the authentication feature inseparable from the medicine and extremely difficult to duplicate, as counterfeiters would need to replicate the internal particle distribution pattern
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates asymmetric authentication by using random spatial distribution of fluorescent particles that generates unique cryptographic patterns for each medicine unit. This asymmetric pattern, combined with the edible PUF properties, ensures that each medicine has a distinct authentication signature that cannot be replicated by symmetric copying methods
3Productivity
If package-level barcodes and RFID are used for authentication, then instantaneous remote authentication is achieved, but the techniques are symmetric and can be cloned if access techniques are obtained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service authentication where the medicine itself (through its embedded fluorescent particles) generates the authentication response when exposed to light. The medicine actively participates in the authentication process by emitting its unique fluorescence pattern, eliminating the need for passive RFID tags and creating an asymmetric system where the authentic item proves its identity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional barcode authentication to three-dimensional spatial distribution of fluorescent particles. By utilizing the third dimension (depth and spatial arrangement within the medicine matrix), the system creates exponentially more complex authentication patterns that are vastly more difficult to clone while maintaining rapid optical detection
4Reliability
If exogenous materials like polystyrene and silica are used for authentication, then authentication features can be embedded, but the materials are not ideal for oral intake safety
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from exogenous synthetic materials to endogenous biocompatible materials. By using silk proteins and fluorescent compounds that are safe for oral intake, the system maintains authentication functionality while eliminating safety hazards associated with non-edible materials
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite materials combining silk proteins with fluorescent compounds to achieve both authentication functionality and biocompatibility. This composite approach allows the authentication feature to be integrated into the medicine in a way that is both functional and safe for consumption
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
Provides a highly secure, asymmetric authentication method that ensures each pharmaceutical dose is verified as genuine, reducing the risk of counterfeit medicines by leveraging the uniqueness and unpredictability of silk protein-based PUFs.
Implementation Method 1
The item includes a random distribution of fluorescent particles disposed thereon
Data Source
AI summary
A method of authenticating an item is disclosed which includes applying light to an item, wherein the item includes a random distribution of fluorescent particles disposed thereon, capturing one or more images from the item, generating a cryptographic pattern from the one or more captured images by a host processing system, communicating the cryptographic pattern to a remote processing system having a plurality of cryptographic keys in a database each uniquely associated with a corresponding item, comparing the cryptographic pattern with the plurality of cryptographic keys in the database, and communicating a positive evaluation for authentication to the host processing system if a match is found between one of the plurality of cryptographic keys and the communicated cryptographic pattern.