Robust Readout of DNA Marking for Electronic Counterfeit Detection

Counterfeiting of electronics in the supply chain such as discrete electronic components, integrated circuits, and electronic sub-assemblies is a major issue for the DoD. Failures arising from counterfeit parts pose a security risk, affect system integrity, lead to mission delays, and ultimately endanger the lives of the warfighters. Counterfeit components are extremely difficult to detect once they enter the supply chain, moreover, traditional detection methods such as X-ray microscopy inspection rely on the destructive analysis or have limitations in spatial resolution, and therefore do not present viable solutions. Recently, botanical DNA immobilized on the product of interest has been employed as a difficult to reproduce taggant, however, these DNA taggants must be read in a non-destructive way. The goal of the proposed effort is to develop an assay and fluidic cartridge which can be applied to the surface carrying the taggant for PCR-based replication and sample preparation prior to sequencing. We will utilize nanopore sequencing with an AI-assisted software to confirm the authenticity of the taggants with high fidelity. Such a development would enable the DoD, and commercial entities, to have high confidence in their supply chain.