Nissha Printing Co., Ltd. (hereafter, Nissha) has developed a secure ink printing system based on the authentication technology using plant DNA patented by Applied DNA Sciences, Inc.

No product is safe from the threat of counterfeiting, and this threatens public health and safety, especially in relation to food and other consumer products. Today, there are commercial, technological solutions available to provide a means to identify genuine products at point of sale and throughout the food supply chain. Nissha has surveyed the world for new authentication technologies that could work seamlessly with its ink printing systems, and discovered that plant DNA authentication markers were the most secure and compatible with a large range of inks and printing processes. Since DNA is trusted as a forensic form of authentication in courts around the world, Nissha believes that it provides the highest security, and will help in the prevention of forged articles, and the preservation of global corporate brands.



1.Authentication technology using DNA ink

This is a secure ink printing system based on authentication technology using plant DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) developed by Nissha in conjunction with Applied DNA Sciences. Forging-proof products with an innovative high security function can be provided by combining various printing technologies (such as offset printing, gravure printing, and ink jet printing).

2.High security level

Unique plant DNAs are created to be used as security codes. The proprietary encryption technology has a resistance to reverse engineering.

Biochemical methods such as PCR* and CE* are needed to analyze the DNA-based sequences that are embedded into Nissha DNA ink. A high security level is created by adding a lock function ([1] in the figure below) to DNA and managing the storage of a specific primer ([2] in the figure below).

* PCR(polymerase chain reaction) and CE(Capillary Electrophoresis) analysis for DNA authentication.

The authentication process uses PCR, or Polymerase Chain Reaction and CE (Capillary Electrophoresis) Analysis to authenticate genuine Nissha-printed items marked with its unique DNA sequence. PCR is a technique used in medical, biological, and forensic laboratories for a variety of applications. It is used to amplify specific regions of a DNA strand (or DNA target). This can be a single gene, a part of a gene, or a non-coding sequence. PCR can be used to amplify a single or multiple copies of a piece of DNA across several orders of magnitude, generating millions of copies of a particular DNA sequence. In addition to PCR amplification, capillary electrophoresis (CE) is also utilized for forensic authentication. The measurement and analysis of the DNA sequence are performed with highly specialized equipment and software. For DNA sequence analysis, DNA fragments typically go through a sequencing reaction and sequences can then be analyzed using the same CE machine. Both authentication processes provide absolute certainty about the presence or absence of specific types of DNA markers, resulting in a forensic level of authentication which cannot be found with many other systems.


3.Product Verification with Nissha DNA ink

Nissha provides step-by-step product authentication methods to realize a high authentication capability in a short period of time depending on the required authentication level.

Level 1: Product (In Field) Quick Verification
At the point of sale, or at any point within the supply chain, products can be instantly verified with a special handheld detector. Customers can make sure that Nissha DNA ink is used, regardless of location, as needed.

Level 2: Secondary (Lab) Forensic Authentication
Authentication is performed based on the PCR analysis.
Whether the DNA base sequence included in DNA ink is correct is checked based on PCR and CE analysis. The period required for the analysis is approx. 10 to 14 business days, at a minimum.

4.Application examples

Example using ink jet printing
DNA ink can be printed directly onto a label, or package, using ink jet printing systems developed by Nissha. This can be done at the first point of production, and allows specialty product brands to be preserved and forged articles to be identified. This approach is safe, affordable, and easy to apply.

Example using gravure printing
DNA ink can be reprinted on resin molding itself by combining with Nissha IMD. This allows genuine part brands (such as batteries) to be preserved and forged articles to be identified.

Example using offset printing
DNA ink can be printed on normal printed materials including label printing on luxury brand liquor and products related to sales promotion. This allows luxury brands to be preserved and forged articles to be identified.


(Reference Information)
Applied DNA Sciences, Inc.
(1) Headquarters: 25 Health Sciences Drive, Suite 215　Stony Brook, New York　11790 USA
(2) Representative: Dave Wigfield, Vice President, Sales & Marketing
(3) Outline of Business: Provides security anti-counterfeiting technologies using plant DNA mainly to the USA and EU countries.