IP Library Granted Patent US 11,359,229
Granted Patent B2
US 11,359,229 · App. 16/334,643 · Granted Jun 14, 2022

Molecular verification systems

Inventors: Jongmin Kim (Cambridge, MA); Jocelyn Yoshiko Kishi (Cambridge, MA); Peng Yin (Cambridge, MA); Steven Henry Strassmann (Cambridge, MA); Thomas E. Schaus (Cambridge, MA)
Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College
C12Q1/6818G06Q30/018
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,359,229
App. No.
16/334,643
Granted
Jun 14, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided herein are molecular verification (authentication) systems, methods and compositions that use molecular (DNA/RNA) circuitry to enable specific molecularly encrypted solutions.

Claims (46)

1. A product authentication method, comprising:

(a) combining

(i) a surface associated with a product with (ii) a solution comprising a first nucleic acid strand comprising a 5′ domain, a 3′ domain, and a 5′ fluorescent molecule or a 5′ quencher molecule,

wherein the surface comprises

a second nucleic acid strand comprising a 5′ domain complementary to the 3′ domain of the first strand, a 3′ domain complementary to the 5′ domain of the first strand, and a 3′ quencher molecule or a 3′ fluorescent molecule, wherein binding of the first strand to the second strand quenches fluorescent signal emitted by the 5′ fluorescent molecule or the 3′ fluorescent molecule and wherein the first strand and/or the second strand comprise(s) L-DNA or a molecule that terminates polymerization; and

(b) assaying for fluorescence on the surface or in the solution.

2. A product authentication method, comprising:

(a) combining a sample of a product with a first nucleic acid strand comprising a 5′ domain, a 3′ domain, and a 5′ fluorescent molecule or a 5′ quencher molecule,

wherein the sample comprises

a second nucleic acid strand comprising a 5′ domain complementary to the 3′ domain of the first strand, a 3′ domain complementary to the 5′ domain of the first strand, and a 3′ quencher molecule or a 3′ fluorescent molecule, wherein binding of the first strand to the second strand quenches fluorescent signal emitted by the 5′ fluorescent molecule or the 3′ fluorescent molecule and wherein the first strand and/or the second strand comprise(s) L-DNA or a molecule that terminates polymerization; and

(b) assaying for fluorescence in the sample.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first strand comprises a 5′ fluorescent molecule and the second strand comprises a 3′ quencher molecule, and binding of the first strand to the second strand quenches fluorescent signal emitted by the 5′ fluorescent molecule.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first strand comprises a 5′ quencher molecule and the second strand comprises a 3′ fluorescent molecule, and binding of the first strand to the second strand quenches fluorescent signal emitted by the 3′ fluorescent molecule.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the surface is a surface of a package containing the product or an identification tag accompanying the product.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first nucleic acid strand and the second nucleic acid strand form an identifiable pattern or shape on the surface.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the product is a liquid product.

8. A product authentication kit, comprising:

a first nucleic acid strand comprising a 5′ domain, a 3′ domain, and a 5′ fluorescent molecule or a 5′ quencher molecule; and

a second nucleic acid strand comprising a 5′ domain complementary to the 3′ domain of the first strand, a 3′ domain complementary to the 5′ domain of the first strand, and a 3′ quencher molecule or 3′ fluorescent molecule,

wherein binding of the second nucleic acid strand to the first nucleic acid strand quenches fluorescent signal emitted by the 5′ fluorescent molecule or the 3′ fluorescent molecule, and wherein the first strand and/or the second strand comprise(s) L-DNA or a molecule that terminates polymerization.

9. The kit of claim 8 , wherein the first strand comprises a 5′ fluorescent molecule and the second strand comprises a 3′ quencher molecule, and binding of the first strand to the second strand quenches fluorescent signal emitted by the 5′ fluorescent molecule.

10. The kit of claim 8 , wherein the first strand comprises a 5′ quencher molecule and the second strand comprises a 3′ fluorescent molecule, and binding of the first strand to the second strand quenches fluorescent signal emitted by the 3′ fluorescent molecule.

11. The kit of claim 8 , wherein

the first nucleic acid strand is formulated in a first solution, and

the second nucleic acid strand is formulated in a second solution.

12. A product authentication method, comprising:

(a) combining

a surface associated with a product with (ii) a solution comprising a first nucleic acid strand comprising a 5′ domain, a loop domain, and a 3′ domain complementary to the 5′ domain,

wherein the surface comprises

a second nucleic acid strand comprising a 5′ end, a 5′ domain, a loop domain, a 3′ domain complementary to the 5′ domain, and a 3′ end, wherein one end comprises a fluorescent molecule and the other end comprises a quencher molecule, wherein binding of the 5′ domain of the second strand to the 3′ domain of the second strand quenches fluorescent signal emitted by the fluorescent molecule, and wherein the first strand and/or the second strand comprise(s) L-DNA or a molecule that terminates polymerization; and

(b) assaying for fluorescence on the surface or in the solution.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the surface is a surface of a package containing the product or an identification tag accompanying the product.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first nucleic acid strand and the second nucleic acid strand form an identifiable pattern or shape on the surface.

15. A product authentication method, comprising:

(a) combining a sample of a product with a first nucleic acid strand comprising a 5′ domain, a 3′ domain, and a 5′ fluorescent molecule,

wherein the sample comprises

a second nucleic acid strand comprising a 5′ domain complementary to the 3′ domain of the first strand, a 3′ domain complementary to the 5′ domain of the first strand, and a 3′ quencher molecule, wherein binding of the first strand to the second strand quenches fluorescent signal emitted by the fluorescent molecule, and wherein the first strand and/or the second strand comprise(s) L-DNA or a molecule that terminates polymerization; and

(b) assaying for fluorescence in the sample.

16. The method of claim 7 , wherein the liquid product comprises at least 5% alcohol.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the product is a liquid product.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the liquid product comprises at least 5% alcohol.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the molecule that terminates polymerization is a non-DNA linker.

20. The method of claim 2 , wherein the molecule that terminates polymerization is a non-DNA linker.

21. The kit of claim 8 , wherein the molecule that terminates polymerization is a non-DNA linker.

22. The method of claim 12 , wherein the molecule that terminates polymerization is a non-DNA linker.

23. The method of claim 15 , wherein the molecule that terminates polymerization is a non-DNA linker.

Assignments (2)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Jan 21, 2020
From: HARVARD UNIVERSITY
To: NAVY, SECRETARY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Reel/Frame 052373/0358 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2019
From: KIM, JONGMIN; KISHI, JOCELYN; SCHAUS, THOMAS; STRASSMANN, STEVE; YIN, PENG
To: PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE
Reel/Frame 048687/0391 →
Continuity (4)
Provisional Application 62502522 · May 5, 2017
Provisional Application 62407331 · Oct 12, 2016
Provisional Application 62396932 · Sep 20, 2016
Related Publication 20210277452A1 · Sep 9, 2021