Eth Zurich

Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin

Michelin Recherche Et Technique S.a.

Unversität Zürich

Robert Nikolaus Grass

Wendelin Jan Stark

Karin Strauss

Bichlien Hoang Nguyen

Weida Chen

Alexander Xavier Christof Kohll

Antonio Delfino

Milan Fedurco

Jean-Paul Meraldi

Tobias Brunner

Jan Wendelin Stark

Gediminas Mikutis

Michela Puddu

Patrick Schmidlin

Julian Bernhard Koch

Evagelos-Kimon Athanassiou

Marc Simonet

Stefan Loher

Oliver Schneider

Fabian Kohler

Jean Paul Meraldi

Philipp R Stoessel

This disclosure describes particles and techniques for storing oligonucleotides that provide stable, long-term protection yet are also compostable. A core is coated with a layer of oligonucleotides and encapsulated under an outer layer of non-porous, hydrolyzed organosilicon disulfide. The hydrolyzed organosilicon disulfide protects the oligonucleotides from oxidative and thermal damage under typical storage conditions. One suitable organosilicon disulfide is bis(3-triethoxysilylpropyl) disulfide (BTSPD). The oligonucleotides may be retrieved by contacting the particles with a reducing agent that degrades the disulfide bonds in the outer layer. The disulfide bonds enable removal of the protective encapsulation without the use of dangerous chemicals such as hydrogen fluoride. Instead of retrieving the oligonucleotides, the particles may be disposed of in a composting environment. In an implementation, the oligonucleotides are artificially synthesized and encode digital information.

Compostable silica encapsulation of oligonucleotides for long-term storage

One or more enzymes are used to repair damage in synthetic DNA molecules that encode digital information. The enzymes are included in a repair mixture containing one or more of DNA polymerase, DNA ligase, T4 Endonuclease, Endonuclease IV, Endonuclease VIII, and uracil glycosylase. The repair mixture may also contain one or more of a buffering solution, oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), and deoxyribose nucleoside triphosphates (dNTPs). The synthetic DNA molecules are incubated with the repair mixture for approximately four hours. Use of the repair solution allows recovery of the digital information from damaged DNA molecules.

Enzymatic DNA repair

The invention is notably directed to a method for encoding information. This method first comprises generating an encryption key according to polymorphic features of nucleic acids from one or more entities. Next, information is encrypted based on the generated key. Finally, the encrypted information is encoded into synthetic DNA. Another aspect concerns a method for retrieving information. Consistently with the above encoding scheme, synthetic DNA in provided, which encodes encrypted information. Such information is read by sequencing the synthetic DNA and by decrypting the information read using a decryption key. The latter is generated according to polymorphic features of nucleic acids from one or more entities (e.g., from the legitimate individual(s) requesting access to information). Thus, the encoded information cannot be interpreted unless a suitable decryption key is available. The invention is further directed to related DNA samples and systems, including DNA vaults.

Encoding and decoding information in synthetic DNA with cryptographic keys generated based on polymorphic features of nucleic acids

A data storage medium is disclosed comprising a two-dimensional (2D) support structure onto which artificially synthesized DNA molecules encoding digital information are placed and then covered with a protective layer. The 2D support structure is formed from a material such as metal foil, glass, or plastic. The 2D support structure may be functionalized with positively charged molecules to improve DNA adhesion. The DNA is protected from degradation by encapsulation in a protective layer of a non-reactive material such as silica or a thin layer of metal. A process for storing DNA on 2D support structures is also disclosed. Correlation of specific DNA molecules with a physical storage location on a 2D support structure provides geometric addressability for selective access to specific digital information.

DNA data storage on two-dimensional support material

A data storage medium is disclosed comprising a substrate covered with alternating layers of a polycationic molecule and artificially synthesized DNA molecules encoding digital information. The magnetic substrate may be a metallic nanoparticle formed from a metal such as iron or cobalt. The polycationic molecule may be polyethyleneimine (PEI). The DNA is protected from degradation by encapsulation in silica. A process for stably storing DNA is also disclosed. Stored DNA may be freed from the silica for sequencing or other analysis by washing the silica-coated DNA with a buffered hydrogen fluoride solution. Storage densities of more than 7% DNA by weight are achieved on nanoparticles.

Silica encapsulated DNA on magnetic nanoparticles

A data storage medium is disclosed comprising a dried product formed by drying a salt solution dried together with artificially synthesized DNA molecules encoding digital information. The cation in the salt may be calcium, magnesium, lanthanum, or another cation. The anion in the salt may be chloride, phosphate, or another anion. The DNA is protected from degradation by drying with the salt. Stored DNA may be freed from the salt for sequencing or other analysis by mixing the dried product with a chelator. The dry product formed from DNA and a salt may contain more than 30% DNA by weight and degrade at rates that are less than a third of rate at which untreated DNA degrades.

High-density DNA storage with salt

A threadlike metallic or metallized reinforcer, for example a thread, film, tape or cord made of carbon steel, at the periphery of which is positioned a layer of metal referred to as 'surface metal' chosen from copper, nickel and copper/nickel alloys, is characterized in that this surface metal layer is itself coated, at least in part, with at least one layer of graphene; preferably, there is grafted, to this graphene, at least one functional group which can crosslink to a polymer matrix. This reinforcer of the invention is effectively protected from corrosion by virtue of the graphene present at the surface; advantageously, it can be adhesively bonded directly, without adhesion primer or addition of metal salt, to an unsaturated rubber matrix, such as natural rubber, by virtue of the possible functionalization of this graphene.

Metallic or metallized, graphenized reinforcement

The present invention relates to core-shell particles comprising encapsulated nucleic acids&#x2014;a sensing sequence and a control sequence; the invention further relates to the use of such particles as a sensing element; to methods for measuring a property of interest in a setting employing such particles; to measuring systems and analytical kits comprising such particles.

Particulate distributed sensing elements

A process for depositing, with forward progression, graphene on the surface of a metallic or metallized continuous reinforcer, at the periphery of which is positioned a layer of surface metal chosen from copper, nickel and copper/nickel alloys, comprises at least one stage of flame spray pyrolysis ('FSP'), under a reducing atmosphere, of a carbon precursor which generates, in the flame, at least one carbon-based gas such as carbon monoxide which is sprayed onto the surface of the reinforcer in forward progression, and is decomposed thereon to form one or more graphene layers at the surface of the surface metal; an additional stage of graphene functionalization makes it possible to adhere the reinforcer to a polymer matrix such as rubber.

Surface graphenization of a metallic or metallized reinforcement by flame spray pyrolysis

The present invention relates to the manufacturing gelatin fibers comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a two-phase composition as defined in the claims, (b) spinning the lower phase of said composition, (c) stretching the obtained fiber and (d) optional finishing steps; to new gelatin fibers and to the use thereof.

Spinning process

The present invention relates to a method for protecting and. recovering nucleic acids. This method may be applied in a verification method of products using molecular code systems or it may be applied in a storage method for nucleic acids. The invention further provides specific particles, their use in secure marking; products suitable for such verification method, to processes for manufacturing such products and methods for reading the information.

Molecular code systems

A ready-for-use metal reinforcer, for example, of the wire or cord type, made of brass-coated carbon steel, is capable of adhering directly by vulcanization to a matrix of unsaturated rubber such as natural rubber. The surface of the reinforcer is provided with nanoparticles of at least one sulfide of a metal chosen from cobalt, copper, iron, zinc and the alloys comprising at least one of these elements. Such a reinforcer can be used as the reinforcing element of a finished article made of rubber, such as a tire.

Ready-to-use metal reinforcement the surface of which is provided with metal-sulfide nanoparticles

The present invention relates to a method for detecting a target molecule in a sample by metal dissolution as described in the specification, said method using an electrical readout; to kits adapted for this method and to electrodes suitable for such kits and methods.

Method for electrical detection of biomolecules by metal dissolution and Assay kit therefore

The invention relates to a process for separating a dispersed phase from a continuous phase comprising the steps of i) contacting said phases with an effective amount of nanoparticles; ii) applying a magnetic field gradient to the obtained system; iii) separating the obtained phases wherein said nanoparticles are of the core shell type, said core consists of a metal or alloy having soft magnetic properties and said shell contains a graphene layers which are optionally functionalized; to new nanoparticles and method of manufacturing such nanoparticles.

Carbon coated magnetic nanoparticles and their use in separation processes

The present relates to the field of dental and bone surgery. In particular, the invention relates to fibrous pharmaceutical compositions; fibrous webs, yarns and woven fabrics of such pharmaceutical compositions; to implant material essentially consisting of fibrous pharmaceutical compositions; to the manufacturing and use of such fibers/webs/implant materials.

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Zurich, Switzerland

Robert Nikolaus Grass