DNA origami turns secret messages into nano–Morse code that acts as multiplayer molecular encryption
Mathematics has always been at the core of securing information. From online banking to government communications, modern society relies on cryptography, in which complex mathematical algorithms transform ...
Mathematics has always been at the core of securing information. From online banking to government communications, modern society relies on cryptography, in which complex mathematical algorithms transform readable information into an unreadable form to keep it secure. But as computing power grows and quantum technology advances, these mathematical safeguards are increasingly vulnerable to being broken. That's where biology stepped in.
Choosing DNA as their information protector, researchers from China developed a multilayer encryption device that takes advantage of the double-helix molecule's programmable nature to create an origami structure that can store information with high security.
This new system used tiny, custom-built rectangular structures made of DNA, in which researchers stored the message as dots and dashes, creating a nanoscale version of Morse code. To hide the message further, they turned the flat DNA origami surfaces into tubes, physically blocking the patterns from being read or imaged. With the help of a matching unlocking key, the recipient can trigger a reaction that unrolls the DNA back to its flat form, allowing them to read and verify the message.
According to the findings published in Science Advances, the transformation between the rectangular and tubular DNA nanostructures allows for 2576 possible keys, making the system extremely hard to crack.
Dots and dashes on DNA
In today's digital world, data is one of our most valuable assets, making its secure storage more important than ever. However, the rise of quantum computers and other high-performance machines threatens the cryptographic codes that have long kept our information hidden from unintended recipients.
As researchers searched for new solutions, they turned to biomolecular cryptography, which secures information using biological molecules and their interactions instead of traditional computer-based codes. Proteins, bacteria and DNA have all been explored as unconventional tools for protecting information. DNA, which has been storing our genetic information, stood out as a promising alternative, not just because of its storage capacity but also its precise programmability.
A popular approach in DNA cryptography is DNA origami. In this technique, a long single strand of DNA from a bacteria-killing virus is folded into a specific shape using complementary base-pair interactions between hundreds of short DNA strands, known as staples. These shapes can be precisely designed, with different parts of the structure programmable and capable of performing multiple functions.
In this study, the researchers used the DNA origami technique for DNA multilayer encryption (DMLE) to process and protect information. First, they created flat, rectangular surfaces. To encode information on these surfaces, they used two different techniques: Dots were created by attaching DNA dumbbells, which are loops of DNA, to specific points, while dashes were created using a hybridization chain reaction (HCR), which forms a long, double-stranded DNA path across the surface.
To keep the patterns hidden, the researchers attached special locking DNA strands along the edges of the flat DNA rectangles. These strands are built to match up and bind to each other, and when they do, they cause the flat sheet to roll up into a tube, physically hiding the patterns so they can no longer be scanned or read. By making every message fit into blocks of the same size, the researchers ensured that the DNA structure's dimensions wouldn't give away any clues about what the message actually said.
To reveal the hidden information, the recipient added a Verification Key (Vk) to the solution, which consisted of six types of unlocking strands. These unlocking strands were fully complementary to the locking strands. They triggered a reaction that physically unrolled the tubular DNA structures into flat, rectangular sheets with very high efficiency (99.7%). While rolling the DNA into tubes took eight hours, unrolling the structures was much faster and could be completed within minutes.
Once the DNA was flat again, the researchers used a technique called atomic force microscopy, or AFM, to take detailed images of the surface. They then compared the patterns in these images against a predefined codebook to translate them back into readable text. The researchers put the entire process to the test by sending the message "JUNE6 INVASION NORMANDY" from start to finish.
The entire process, from encryption to decryption, took roughly 10 hours, far longer than conventional electronic means. Despite this timeframe, the researchers noted that DNA origami demonstrated its potential to be programmed to support advanced information security and perform cryptographic functions traditionally limited to digital computers.
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Publication details
Junke Wang et al, A multiple-encrypted DNA device for secure communication, Science Advances (2026). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aef9101
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Citation: DNA origami turns secret messages into nano–Morse code that acts as multiplayer molecular encryption (2026, July 14) retrieved 14 July 2026 from https://phys.org/news/2026-07-dna-origami-secret-messages-nanomorse.html
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