Abstract: A method of marking fibers, wherein the method includes providing a plurality of fibers; depositing a marker onto at least a portion of the fibers, the depositing being performed with a delivery mechanism comprising one or more outlets; and thereby marking the fibers. Also provided is a device for marking fibers, including a transport system adapted to transport fibers in a direction of a marker delivery apparatus positioned along the transport system; the delivery apparatus includes one or more outlets, adapted to deposit a solution of the marker through the outlets onto at least a portion of the fibers; and thereby marking the fibers. Authentication of a fibrous material using the marking method of the invention followed obtaining a sample of the marked fibers and assaying the sample for the presence of the nucleic acid marker; and thereby determining whether the fibrous material is authentic or counterfeit.

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 encrypted marker may include a DNA taggant.

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. The invention provides methods for stably binding and immobilizing 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.

Abstract: A system associated with authentication of an object related to a multi-mode marker using a processing device. The processing device performs operations that include detecting a signal associated with a multi-mode marker related with the object; assigning a digital code based on the detected signal associated with the multi-mode marker; and identifying the object based on the digital code related to authentication of the object. A corresponding method and computer-readable device are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system associated with authentication of an object related to a multi-mode marker using a processing device. The processing device performs operations that include detecting a signal associated with a multi-mode marker related with the object; assigning a digital code based on the detected signal associated with the multi-mode marker; and identifying the object based on the digital code related to authentication of the object. A corresponding method and computer-readable device are also disclosed.

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 encrypted marker may include a DNA taggant.

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: 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 system associated with authentication of an object related to a multi-mode marker using a processing device. The processing device performs operations that include detecting a signal associated with a multi-mode marker related with the object; assigning a digital code based on the detected signal associated with the multi-mode marker; and identifying the object based on the digital code related to authentication of the object. A corresponding method and computer-readable device are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided is a method of authenticating an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). The method includes providing an API or an API component and adding a nucleic acid marker having a nucleic acid marker sequence to produce a marked API or a marked API component. The presence of the nucleic acid marker is detected in the sample and the authenticity of the API is thereby determined according to whether the pharmaceutical product includes marked API or the marked API component.

Abstract: Provided are a method and device for marking an article for security, tracking or authentication. The method includes depositing a solution comprising a nucleic acid marker onto at least a portion of the article. The nucleic acid marker may be activated, for example, by adding a functional group to the nucleic acid marker. The activation of the nucleic acid marker may be performed by exposure to alkaline conditions. The method is well suited for marking fibers and textiles, as well as many other items.

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: 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 multi-mode reader instrument capable of detecting and determining digital data from a signal from one or more markers, indicia or taggants on an object, the markers, indicia or taggants such as a bar code, a QR code, an RFID, an optical compound, a fluorescent compound, a phosphorescent compound, a DNA taggant, an upconverting phosphor (UCP), a chemical dye, a digitized image, a radioactive compound, an olfactory compound or a thermal attribute of the object is provided. Also, provided is a method and a system for identifying an object, the system includes: a multi-mode reader instrument for detecting data from a signal from one or more markers, indicia or taggants on an object and assignment of digital code for the marker and a database for securing and retrieving information relevant to the item.

Abstract: Provided is a method of authenticating an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). The method includes providing an API or an API component and adding a nucleic acid marker having a nucleic acid marker sequence to produce a marked API or a marked API component. The presence of the nucleic acid marker is detected in the sample and the authenticity of the API is thereby determined according to whether the pharmaceutical product includes marked API or the marked API component.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for stably binding and immobilizing 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. The alkaline conditions are produced by mixing the deoxyribonucleic acid with an alkaline solution having a pH of about 9.0 or higher, and contacting the deoxyribonucleic acid to the substrate. The immobilized DNA can be used as a taggant and can be used in combination with other detectable taggants, such as optical reporters. Methods for authentication of a DNA marked object are also provided.

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: 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: The invention provides a composition including DNA bonded to a plasma-treated surface, the plasma can be any suitable plasma, such as an argon plasma, a compressed air plasma, a flame-based plasma or a vacuum plasma. Surfaces treatable by the methods of the invention include ceramic, metal, fabric and organic polymer surfaces. The DNA can be any DNA, such as a marker DNA, which can be linear or circular, single-stranded or double stranded and from about 25 bases to about 10,000 bases in length. Also provided is a method of binding DNA to a surface, including the steps of exposing the surface to a plasma to produce a plasma-treated surface; and applying DNA to the plasma-treated surface to produce surface bound DNA on the treated surface.

Abstract: A multi-mode reader instrument capable of detecting and determining digital data from a signal from one or more markers, indicia or taggants on an object, the markers, indicia or taggants such as a bar code, a QR code, an RFID, an optical compound, a fluorescent compound, a phosphorescent compound, a DNA taggant, an upconverting phosphor (UCP), a chemical dye, a digitized image, a radioactive compound, an olfactory compound or a thermal attribute of the object is provided. Also, provided is a method and a system for identifying an object, the system includes: a multi-mode reader instrument for detecting data from a signal from one or more markers, indicia or taggants on an object and assignment of digital code for the marker and a database for securing and retrieving information relevant to the item.