Molecular Authentication Using Synthetic Oligonucleotide Tags

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Solution Overview

Problem

As supply chains become increasingly global, there is a growing need for robust and secure authentication methods to prevent fraudulent behavior and ensure the authenticity of products, particularly in harsh environmental conditions.

Innovation Solution

The development of molecular tag authentication systems using synthetic oligonucleotides, which are physically coupled to products, providing a unique identification through short nucleic acid strands that are difficult to sequence and decode, and can withstand harsh conditions, utilizing mechanisms like toehold exchange to generate a detectable signal upon correct binding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional authentication methods are used, then products can be tracked and authenticated, but they fail to provide sufficient security against counterfeiting and cannot withstand harsh environmental conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication securityVSAvoidenvironmental degradation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical or chemical authentication tags with nucleic acid-based molecular tags. These biological molecules provide superior security through sequence complexity and can withstand harsh environmental conditions including extreme temperatures, humidity, and chemical exposure, directly resolving the contradiction between authentication security and environmental resistance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The authentication system combines nucleic acid sequences with protective encapsulation materials and detection reagents to create a composite authentication tag. This composite structure maintains the security and environmental resilience benefits of nucleic acids while adding layers of protection against degradation, addressing both security and environmental durability requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If complex authentication systems are implemented, then security against counterfeiting improves, but the system becomes less adaptable to field testing and more difficult to operate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity barrierVSAvoidfield testing capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The authentication system is divided into separate modular components: nucleic acid tags embedded in products, portable detection reagents, and reading instruments. This segmentation allows the complex security system to be deployed flexibly in field conditions, with each component being independently testable and operable without requiring the entire system to be present simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces portable detection reagents as intermediaries that bridge the complex nucleic acid authentication system and simple field testing. These reagents enable straightforward detection procedures while maintaining the security integrity of the underlying complex authentication mechanism, resolving the contradiction between security complexity and field testing simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If short nucleic acid tags are used, then synthesis cost decreases and sequencing difficulty increases, but the system requires precise control of binding dynamics

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetag synthesis costVSAvoidbinding dynamics control

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes nucleic acid tag length and sequence composition to achieve the desired balance between manufacturing ease and binding control. By carefully selecting tag parameters such as length (typically 10-50 nucleotides), GC content, and secondary structure properties, the system maintains low synthesis costs while enabling precise control over binding kinetics and specificity through programmed base-pairing interactions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

These systems offer a stringent security barrier against counterfeiting, providing a robust and versatile method for authenticating products across the supply chain, ensuring their safety, security, and brand protection by generating a detectable signal indicative of authenticity.

Implementation Method 1

an authenticating identifier composition comprising a second strand that binds to the first strand, wherein binding of the second strand to the first strand produces a detectable signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHybridization:

Data Source

PatentUS12142104B2Methods and compositions for molecular authentication

Publication Date: 2024.11.12 PRESIDENT & FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE

AI summary

Provided herein, in some embodiments, are molecular authentication methods, systems, and compositions.