Photocrosslinked Nucleic Acid Barcodes for Fast Data Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Nucleic acids have high volumetric data density but are limited by slow and expensive synthesis, making them unsuitable for practical data storage due to the need for specialized and toxic chemicals or enzymes.
Innovation Solution
A method for light-directed concatenation of nucleic acid data barcodes using photoreactive elements, enabling enzyme-free synthesis in aqueous media, which can be patterned on compressible hydrogels for high-density data storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional nucleic acid synthesis methods are used, then nucleic acid data storage can be achieved, but the synthesis speed is slow and the cost is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional enzymatic or chemical synthesis mechanisms with a light-driven photopolymerization system. Photoreactive nucleic acid monomers are polymerized using light exposure, eliminating the need for expensive enzymes or toxic chemicals, thereby reducing cost and increasing synthesis speed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of synthesis activation from chemical/enzymatic catalysis to optical activation. By using light-responsive monomers that polymerize upon light exposure, the system achieves rapid synthesis without the kinetic limitations of conventional methods
2Productivity
If photoreactive elements are used for light-directed concatenation, then synthesis speed increases and cost decreases, but the process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the nucleic acid synthesis process into modular photoreactive monomers that can be independently controlled. Each monomer contains specific photoreactive groups that respond to light, allowing precise spatial and temporal control of polymerization while maintaining process simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces photoreactive nucleic acid monomers as intermediary building blocks. These monomers serve as mediators between light energy and nucleic acid polymer formation, simplifying the overall process by directly converting light exposure into polymerization without complex enzymatic systems
3Quantity of substance
If hydrogels are compressed for storage, then information density increases, but the physical space required decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds nucleic acid-encoded data within the three-dimensional network structure of hydrogels. The hydrogel matrix acts as a container that can be compressed, allowing high-density data storage in a compact physical form factor while maintaining the integrity of the embedded nucleic acid sequences
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
This method achieves fast, cost-effective, and stable nucleic acid data storage with high information density, suitable for archival applications, overcoming the limitations of conventional methods.
Implementation Method 1
photocrosslinking a first nucleic acid comprising a barcode flanked by a pair of hybridization domains to a second nucleic acid comprising a barcode domain (e.g., DNA data domain) flanked by a pair of hybridization domains; optionally further comprising photocrosslinking to the first or second nucleic acid at least one additional nucleic acid that comprises a barcode flanked by a pair of hybridization domains, wherein one of the hybridization domains of each pair comprises a photoreactive element
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
Provided herein are methods and compositions related to nucleic acid barcoding. In some aspects, provided herein are methods and compositions for writing, storing, reading, and resetting data, for example, using photocrosslinking and/or a substrate or compressible hydrogel.