IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v15y2024i1d10.1038_s41467-024-47187-7.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Chemical unclonable functions based on operable random DNA pools

Author

Listed:
  • Anne M. Luescher

    (ETH Zürich)

  • Andreas L. Gimpel

    (ETH Zürich)

  • Wendelin J. Stark

    (ETH Zürich)

  • Reinhard Heckel

    (Technical University of Munich)

  • Robert N. Grass

    (ETH Zürich)

Abstract

Physical unclonable functions (PUFs) based on unique tokens generated by random manufacturing processes have been proposed as an alternative to mathematical one-way algorithms. However, these tokens are not distributable, which is a disadvantage for decentralized applications. Finding unclonable, yet distributable functions would help bridge this gap and expand the applications of object-bound cryptography. Here we show that large random DNA pools with a segmented structure of alternating constant and randomly generated portions are able to calculate distinct outputs from millions of inputs in a specific and reproducible manner, in analogy to physical unclonable functions. Our experimental data with pools comprising up to >1010 unique sequences and encompassing >750 comparisons of resulting outputs demonstrate that the proposed chemical unclonable function (CUF) system is robust, distributable, and scalable. Based on this proof of concept, CUF-based anti-counterfeiting systems, non-fungible objects and decentralized multi-user authentication are conceivable.

Suggested Citation

  • Anne M. Luescher & Andreas L. Gimpel & Wendelin J. Stark & Reinhard Heckel & Robert N. Grass, 2024. "Chemical unclonable functions based on operable random DNA pools," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-47187-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47187-7
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-47187-7
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-024-47187-7?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yaakov Benenson & Tamar Paz-Elizur & Rivka Adar & Ehud Keinan & Zvi Livneh & Ehud Shapiro, 2001. "Programmable and autonomous computing machine made of biomolecules," Nature, Nature, vol. 414(6862), pages 430-434, November.
    2. Jorge Guajardo & Boris Škorić & Pim Tuyls & Sandeep S. Kumar & Thijs Bel & Antoon H. M. Blom & Geert-Jan Schrijen, 2009. "Anti-counterfeiting, key distribution, and key storage in an ambient world via physical unclonable functions," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 19-41, March.
    3. Linda C. Meiser & Bichlien H. Nguyen & Yuan-Jyue Chen & Jeff Nivala & Karin Strauss & Luis Ceze & Robert N. Grass, 2022. "Synthetic DNA applications in information technology," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    4. Hui Lv & Nuli Xie & Mingqiang Li & Mingkai Dong & Chenyun Sun & Qian Zhang & Lei Zhao & Jiang Li & Xiaolei Zuo & Haibo Chen & Fei Wang & Chunhai Fan, 2023. "DNA-based programmable gate arrays for general-purpose DNA computing," Nature, Nature, vol. 622(7982), pages 292-300, October.
    5. Linda C. Meiser & Julian Koch & Philipp L. Antkowiak & Wendelin J. Stark & Reinhard Heckel & Robert N. Grass, 2020. "DNA synthesis for true random number generation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-9, December.
    6. Tongtong Zhang & Lingzhi Wang & Jing Wang & Zhongqiang Wang & Madhav Gupta & Xuyun Guo & Ye Zhu & Yau Chuen Yiu & Tony K. C. Hui & Yan Zhou & Can Li & Dangyuan Lei & Kwai Hei Li & Xinqiang Wang & Qi W, 2023. "Multimodal dynamic and unclonable anti-counterfeiting using robust diamond microparticles on heterogeneous substrate," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Tongtong Zhang & Lingzhi Wang & Jing Wang & Zhongqiang Wang & Madhav Gupta & Xuyun Guo & Ye Zhu & Yau Chuen Yiu & Tony K. C. Hui & Yan Zhou & Can Li & Dangyuan Lei & Kwai Hei Li & Xinqiang Wang & Qi W, 2023. "Multimodal dynamic and unclonable anti-counterfeiting using robust diamond microparticles on heterogeneous substrate," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Kumar S. Ray & Mandrita Mondal, 2016. "Logical Inference by DNA Strand Algebra," New Mathematics and Natural Computation (NMNC), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 12(01), pages 29-44, March.
    3. Xiong Zhang & Xin Zhang & Xuechen Luo & Wei T. Yue, 2022. "The Impact of Revenue Models on Anti-Counterfeiting Measures for Online Intermediaries," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 24(6), pages 1905-1928, December.
    4. Nazarii Sabat & Andreas Stämpfli & Steven Hanlon & Serena Bisagni & Filippo Sladojevich & Kurt Püntener & Marcel Hollenstein, 2024. "Template-dependent DNA ligation for the synthesis of modified oligonucleotides," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    5. Zachary R. Adam & Albert C. Fahrenbach & Betul Kacar & Masashi Aono, 2018. "Prebiotic Geochemical Automata at the Intersection of Radiolytic Chemistry, Physical Complexity, and Systems Biology," Complexity, Hindawi, vol. 2018, pages 1-21, June.
    6. Kun Wang & Jianwei Shi & Wenxuan Lai & Qiang He & Jun Xu & Zhenyi Ni & Xinfeng Liu & Xiaodong Pi & Deren Yang, 2024. "All-silicon multidimensionally-encoded optical physical unclonable functions for integrated circuit anti-counterfeiting," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    7. Junfang Zhang & Rong Tan & Yuxin Liu & Matteo Albino & Weinan Zhang & Molly M. Stevens & Felix F. Loeffler, 2024. "Printed smart devices for anti-counterfeiting allowing precise identification with household equipment," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    8. Satyen Mukherjee & Emile Aarts & Terry Doyle, 2009. "Special issue on Ambient Intelligence," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 1-5, March.
    9. Xuyang Zhao & Junyao Li & Qingyuan Fan & Jing Dai & Yanping Long & Ronghui Liu & Jixian Zhai & Qing Pan & Yi Li, 2024. "Composite Hedges Nanopores codec system for rapid and portable DNA data readout with high INDEL-Correction," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    10. Adam Kuzdraliński & Marek Miśkiewicz & Hubert Szczerba & Wojciech Mazurczyk & Jeff Nivala & Bogdan Księżopolski, 2023. "Unlocking the potential of DNA-based tagging: current market solutions and expanding horizons," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-7, December.
    11. Chulhwan Chris Bang, 2015. "Information systems frontiers: Keyword analysis and classification," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 217-237, February.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-47187-7. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.