Margulies David, Felder Clifford E, Melman Galina, Shanzer Abraham
Department of Organic Chemistry, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
J Am Chem Soc. 2007 Jan 17;129(2):347-54. doi: 10.1021/ja065317z.
This paper describes a new concept in the way information can be protected at the molecular scale. By harnessing the principles of molecular Boolean logic, we have designed a molecular device that mimics the operation of an electronic keypad lock, e.g., a common security circuit used for numerous applications, in which access to an object or data is to be restricted to a limited number of persons. What distinguishes this lock from a simple molecular logic gate is the fact that its output signals are dependent not only on the proper combination of the inputs but also on the correct order by which these inputs are introduced. In other words, one needs to know the exact passwords that open this lock. The different password entries are coded by a combination of two chemical and one optical input signals, which can activate, separately, blue or green fluorescence output channels from pyrene or fluorescein fluorophores. The information in each channel is a single-bit light output signal that can be used to authorize a user, to verify authentication of a product, or to initiate a higher process. This development not only opens the way for a new class of molecular decision-making devices but also adds a new dimension of protection to existing defense technologies, such as cryptography and steganography, previously achieved with molecules.
本文描述了一种在分子尺度上保护信息的新方法。通过利用分子布尔逻辑原理，我们设计了一种分子装置，它模仿电子键盘锁的操作，例如一种用于众多应用的常见安全电路，在该电路中，对物体或数据的访问仅限于有限数量的人员。这种锁与简单分子逻辑门的区别在于，其输出信号不仅取决于输入的正确组合，还取决于输入这些信号的正确顺序。换句话说，人们需要知道打开这把锁的确切密码。不同的密码输入由两种化学输入信号和一种光学输入信号的组合进行编码，这些信号可以分别激活芘或荧光素荧光团的蓝色或绿色荧光输出通道。每个通道中的信息是一个单比特光输出信号，可用于授权用户、验证产品的认证或启动更高层次的过程。这一进展不仅为新型分子决策装置开辟了道路，还为现有的防御技术（如先前利用分子实现的密码学和隐写术）增添了新的保护维度。
