How nanomaterials are driving the next generation of anti-counterfeiting and product security technologies.
Companies are now stealing a march on ever more sophisticated counterfeiters by developing unbreakable new codes based on nanomaterials in security applications.
Counterfeiting is a major problem, causing the global economy billions of dollars per year (approximately 5-7% of all goods sold worldwide are counterfeit, at a cost of US$590 billion in 2007), and affecting people in all walks of life as well as industry. Sales of counterfeit products can greatly affect sales revenues, erode brand value and public trust, pose health risks for citizens, lead to product recalls and are a particular problem in the pharmaceuticals, air plane parts, auto parts, and designer clothing sectors, among others. Another significant market is counterfeit food, estimated to cost the global economy $49 million in 2007.
Counterfeiters are at present able to counterfeit most anti-counterfeiting technologies within 18 months. In order to stay one step ahead of counterfeiters it is necessary to develop sophisticated new and forgery-proof marking systems. Incumbent technologies that need to be replaced are, for example, holograms. Due to the proliferation worldwide of holographic technologies they are now relatively straightforward to copy. The Dotmatrix equipment used to produce the technology is available off-the-shelf and is used to produce high quality counterfeits. Other weaknesses of holograms include the reliance only on visual perception and difficulty in authentication due to over complicated design. Other current anti-counterfeiting technologies such as tamper-evident closures, tags and markings, and RFID labels can also be eventually be copied.
Nanotechnology-enabled applications are leading to new non-reproducible technological features that will lead to preventing illegal copying of intellectual property and products. Methods utilizing nanomaterials such as nanotubes, quantum dots, nanofibers, and metal oxide nanoparticles are being employed in holograms, laser surface authentication, physically unclonable functionality, magnetic fingerprints and nanobarcodes and taggants.
Advantages of utilizing nanomaterials in anti-counterfeiting include:
• Difficulty in counterfeiting specific uniform nanomaterials as these materials cannot be produced by standard equipment
• Functionalisation of nanomaterials requires a high standard of training
• The special multifunctional surface, magnetic, fluorescent, and infrared properties of nanomaterials and patterns created thereof can create unique profiles.
There are a number of companies producing nanomaterial’s enabled authentication systems for product authentication, as nanoscale markers exhibit distinctive optical properties for covert marking applications. Alcen, in partnership with CEA Liten (Laboratory of Innovation for Technologies of New Energies and Nanomaterials- www-liten.cea.fr) has developed NAOMARQ, an authentication technology incorporating nanoscale taggants that are authenticated with a handheld reader. The taggants have original luminescence properties and can be incorporated onto any type of product.
Nanotech Security has recently announced conclusion of its first stage test-run utilizing its nano-enabled optical security technology, NOtES. They licence technology from Simon Fraser University. The technology uses patented algorithms to fabricate hundreds of millions of nano-holes into a wide variety of substrates. These nano-holes can be formed into unique patterns which are able to collect and reflect light in readily identifiable images that are technically superior to existing holographic technology. First applications are for bank notes.
Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. are collaborating with The College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) of the University at Albany in developing nano-enabled technology to prevent the counterfeiting of computer chips. The collaboration is aimed at accelerating the development of APDN’s SigNature DNA® product. This will include the integration of new methods for DNA deposition on nanoelectronics wafers and computer chips both prior to, and including, final packaging to ensure the integrity and security of processed wafers.
Sun Innovations is the manufacturer of BrandAuthern, a product that utilizes holographic nanoparticles for covert product authentication that can be authenticated under UV light. The functionalized nanoparticles can be directly printed or coated onto a product package or label surface to add covert or forensic security that is virtually impossible to counterfeit.
Ingenia Technology Ltd. has invented a technology, known as “Laser Surface Authentication” or LSA™ which reads the surface of the inherent structure of paper, packaging and plastics using a low cost laser, with a reliability level of at least one million trillion. The reflected laser from the surface is used in capturing microscopic signatures of surfaces. The laser sensor can be applied to production lines with minimum impact to operations and records the inherent ‘fingerprint’ of every item on the line and stores in a customer database. The technology has application in the authentication and verification of papers, plastics and metals, as used in documents, ID cards and product packaging.
Bilcare Research is one of the leading companies using nanoparticle taggants, using the technology developed by Singular ID, who they purchased for $20 million in 2008. The main markets for their tags are automotive parts and pharmaceuticals.
Verify First Technologies have filed a patent for security documents, have described two security features on a printable substrate, one that is on the substrate and the other partially or completely embedded in the first feature. The first security feature has nanostructures for trapping printing matter for latent copy-void warning message. The second security feature is also nanostructured configured for forming pixel pattern on digital document reproduction.
Counterfeiting is a significant problem for the pharmaceutical industry, as are problems with the supply chain, causing a surge in drug recalls and eroding confidence in the industry. The World Health Organization estimates that 10% of global medicines are fake. In 2009, the Food and Drug Administration in the United States reported more than 1,742 recalls, up from 426 in 2008. Pfizer, Inc. is utilizing NanoGuardian’s NanoEncryption technology to apply covert and overt markers to pharmaceuticals and increase supply chain efficiency. These markers can be authenticated at any point in the supply chain while forensic-level NanoCodes provide comprehensive tracing information on every dose.
