Abstract: Methods for authenticating an article with a cyanoacrylate solution comprising a water soluble security marker compound are described. The methods for producing a nucleophilic security marker/cyanoacrylate solution as well as methods for labeling an item and detecting the nucleophilic security marker/cyanoacrylate from an item being authenticated are also described. A method for using a nucleophilic cyanoacrylate security marker for antitheft purposes is also described.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for increasing the recoverability of taggants from an object. The methods include the steps of incorporating a taggant into a solution; mixing the solution including the taggant with a perturbant to form a first perturbant taggant solution; mixing the first perturbant taggant solution with a polymer to form a second perturbant taggant polymer solution; and applying the second perturbant taggant polymer solution to at least a portion of the object to form a taggant-coated object. Methods for authentication of a taggant marked object are also provided.

Abstract: Methods for distinguishing between cotton cultivars of a specific species by analyzing a sample of mature cotton fibers from raw cotton materials or from textile goods are disclosed. DNA is extracted from the mature cotton fiber sample and subjected to PCR techniques which enable the identification of the cultivar of a particular cotton species utilized in the textile or cotton material of interest.

Abstract: Methods for incorporating and/or immobilizing security markers by exposure to an electromagnetic pulse, such as for instance a LASER pulse, to produce a marked object that can be authenticated only by using proprietary biological, chemical or physical analysis, the method includes: exposing a surface of the object to be marked to an electromagnetic pulse to activate the surface or a coating on the surface, and exposing the surface to a detectable marker molecule and thereby immobilizing the detectable marker molecule, such as a biological marker molecule, e.g. DNA on the surface of the object. The method of marking the object may include exposing a photo-polymerizable monomer on at least a portion of the surface of an object to be marked to a LASER pulse to initiate a reaction to cross link the photo-polymerizable monomer binding, trapping or encapsulating a detectable marker on the surface of the object.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of marking an item with naturally-derived or synthetic non-natural polymeric marker molecules, such as a DNA or Peptide marker in conjunction with optional visible or rapid scan reporters for authenticating or tracking, in which the method includes providing an item for marking, and applying a medium including a DNA marker to the item. The invention further provides methods for stably binding and immobilizing activated deoxyribonucleic acid onto objects and substrates. The method includes exposing the deoxyribonucleic acid to alkaline conditions, and contacting the deoxyribonucleic acid to the object or substrate. Also provided are methods for increasing the recoverability of taggants from an object.

Abstract: A method of marking an inventory item includes providing an activatable smoke generator and a reservoir for holding a smoke fluid and adapted to provide a flow of smoke fluid to the generator. The reservoir contains a smoke fluid including a carrier nucleic acid having a uniquely identifiable sequence, and upon activation of the smoke generator, marker smoke is generated and targeted to flow over the inventory item. The method further includes activating the smoke generator to produce the marker smoke including the carrier nucleic acid so as to cause the marker smoke to flow over the inventory item and thereby to detectably mark the inventory item with carrier nucleic acid.

Abstract: A method of encrypting information includes converting an information sequence represented as a strings of bits into a curvilinear coding system, where each element of the curvilinear coding system corresponds to a sub-sequence of successive same-valued bits, converting said curvilinear coding system into a at least one closed curve, and embedding said at least one closed curve in a 2-dimensional pattern. A method for decrypting information includes extracting at least one closed curve from a digitized 2-dimensional pattern, and converting the at least one closed curve into an information sequence represented as a string of bits.

Abstract: Encrypted markers that are not readily detectable can be revealed by treatment with a specific reagent used as a developer to reveal a readily detectable physical property of the marker, such as a characteristic fluorescence emission after excitation with a particular excitation wavelength, or to reveal a visible color. The encrypted marker can be developed in situ, or a sample can be removed by brushing, scraping, swabbing or scratching the marked object or item and developing the encrypted marker or a sample thereof with the appropriate developer to reveal an overt marker or optical signal. The marker can be revealed by exposure of the encrypted marker or a sample thereof to the developer in any suitable form, such as a solution, a slurry, a swab, a solid (such as in granular form), or a gas or a vapor that includes a developer.

Abstract: A method for authenticating a textile material that is initiated by selecting a unique nucleic acid marker having a specific length and a specific sequence. A media that causes the unique nucleic acid marker to adhere to a fibrous material is then selected. The method then proceeds to generate a nucleic acid marker mixture by mixing the media with the nucleic acid marker. The nucleic acid marker mixture is then applied to the fibrous material. A marked fibrous material is produced by marking the fibrous material with the nucleic acid marker. The textile material is manufactured with the marked fibrous material. The textile material is then authenticated by detecting the unique nucleic acid marker with primers that are specific to the unique nucleic acid. In an alternative embodiment, the media is used as a topical treatment for the fibrous material.

Abstract: This invention provides compositions that have a light emitting reporter linked to biomolecules, preferably, nucleotide oligomers. The light reporter particles are silylated and functionalized to produce a coated light reporter particle, prior to covalently linking the biomolecules to the light reporter particle. The light reporter particles of the invention can be excited by a light excitation source such as UV or IR light, and when the biomolecule is DNA, the attached DNA molecule(s) are detectable by amplification techniques such as PCR.

Abstract: A verifiably identifiable object that includes a primary taggant encoding a readable encrypted first identifier of the object encrypted by a first method and a secondary taggant encoding a readable encrypted second identifier of the object optionally encrypted by a second method. The primary taggant can be a physical identification taggant, such as DNA including an authentication sequence, and the secondary taggant can be a digital identification taggant. The digital identification taggant encodes information validating the physical identification taggant, such as by referencing information embodied in the physical taggant, e.g. the defined sequence within the DNA. Also included is a method and system for identification and/or authentication of an object that includes a primary taggant encoding a readable encrypted first identifier of the object encrypted by a first method and a secondary taggant encoding a readable encrypted second identifier of the object encrypted by a second method.

Abstract: Methods for distinguishing between cotton cultivars of a specific species by analyzing a sample of mature cotton fibers from raw cotton materials or from textile goods are disclosed. DNA is extracted from the mature cotton fiber sample and subjected to PCR techniques which enable the identification of the cultivar of a particular cotton species utilized in the textile or cotton material of interest.

Abstract: Methods for distinguishing between cotton species by analyzing a sample of mature cotton fibers from raw cotton materials or from textile goods are disclosed. DNA is extracted from the mature cotton fiber sample and subjected to PCR techniques which enable the identification of the species of cotton utilized in the textile or cotton material of interest.

Abstract: This invention provides compositions that have a light emitting reporter linked to biomolecules, preferably, nucleotide oligomers. The light reporter particles are silylated and functionalized to produce a coated light reporter particle, prior to covalently linking the biomolecules to the light reporter particle. The light reporter particles of the invention can be excited by a light excitation source such as UV or IR light, and when the biomolecule is DNA, the attached DNA molecule(s) are detectable by amplification techniques such as PCR.

Abstract: This invention pertains to methods for authenticating an article comprising tagging the article with light emitting optical reporter particles, and more specifically tagging the articles with up-converting phosphor particles (UCP), linked to nucleic acids of detectable sequence.

Abstract: A method for authenticating and verifying a pharmaceutical item to be genuine is described. The method for authenticating a tablet comprises applying a particular nucleic acid material associated with a particular sequence of nucleic acid bases to a tablet or capsule. The method also comprises collecting a sample of the tablet and verifying the tablet is genuine by detecting the particular nucleic acid material.

Abstract: A method for authenticating and verifying an item to be genuine is described. The method for authenticating the item comprises applying a particular nucleic acid material associated with a particular sequence of nucleic acid bases to ink within an ink cartridge or a toner compound within a toner housing. The method also comprises collecting a sample of either the ink or toner compound and verifying the ink or toner is genuine by detecting the particular nucleic acid material.

Abstract: A method for authenticating and verifying garment to be genuine is described. The method for authenticating a garment comprises applying a particular nucleic acid material/marker associated with a particular sequence of nucleic acid bases to a dye or paint and applying the marker to the garment. The method also comprises collecting a sample from the garment and verifying the garment is genuine by detecting the particular nucleic acid material on or within the garment.

Abstract: This invention provides compositions that have a light emitting reporter linked to biomolecules, preferably, nucleotide oligomers. The light reporter particles are silylated and functionalized to produce a coated light reporter particle, prior to covalently linking the biomolecules to the light reporter particle. The light reporter particles of the invention can be excited by a light excitation source such as UV or IR light, and when the biomolecule is DNA, the attached DNA molecule(s) are detectable by amplification techniques such as PCR.