title: Binary DNA nanostructures for data encryption.
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.
authors.affiliation: Immune Disease Institute/Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Halvorsen
authors.forename: Wesley P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D016494:Computer Security; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004247:DNA