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Binary DNA Nanostructures for Data Encryption

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2012

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Public Library of Science
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Halvorsen, Ken, and Wesley P. Wong. 2012. Binary DNA nanostructures for data encryption. PLoS ONE 7(9): e44212.

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Abstract

We present a simple and secure system for encrypting and decrypting information using DNA self-assembly. Binary data is encoded in the geometry of DNA nanostructures with two distinct conformations. Removing or leaving out a single component reduces these structures to an encrypted solution of ssDNA, whereas adding back this missing “decryption key” causes the spontaneous formation of the message through self-assembly, enabling rapid read out via gel electrophoresis. Applications include authentication, secure messaging, and barcoding.

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Biology, Biochemistry, Nucleic Acids, DNA, Biophysics, Biotechnology, Bionanotechnology, Molecular Cell Biology, Computer Science, Cryptography, Materials Science, Nanotechnology, Nanomaterials, Programmable Matter, Physics, Macromolecular Assemblies

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