OLIGONUCLEOTIDES AS CODING MOLECULES IN AN ANTI-COUNTERFEITING SYSTEM

Due to the growing numbers of counterfeited products on the world market, there is a huge demand for new and forgery-proof marking systems. We developed a unique system using “molecular beacons” with well adapted thermodynamic parameters. This marking system consists of the three components: DNA tag (a label or directly printing), detection pen (contains the “molecular beacon” solution), and DNA-scanner (reads the specific signal triggered by the detection pen even at daylight). The vast coding capacity of DNA combined with the highly specific signal offers a degree of security that is unmatched by conventional identification technologies.