Random Sanitization in DNA Information Storage Using CRISPR-Cas12a

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Genomics
• Information Science

Background:

• DNA data storage offers high density and stability for metadata.
• Current DNA storage lacks secure methods for data wiping.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a secure and efficient method for random sanitization in DNA information storage.
• To enable selective file erasure and enhance data security in DNA storage systems.

Main Methods:

• Utilized CRISPR-Cas12a's collateral cleavage of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA).
• Controlled primer-template hybridization thermodynamics for selective ssDNA degradation.
• Applied random sanitization in DNA information storage using CRISPR-Cas12a (RSDISC).

Main Results:

• Achieved up to 99.9% sanitization efficiency for 28,258 oligonucleotides in one round.
• Demonstrated potential for erasing up to 10^12 files based on hybridization efficiency models.
• Showcased selective degradation of ssDNA with varying GC content, length, and structure.

Conclusions:

• RSDISC provides a robust random sanitization method for DNA data storage.
• This approach supports information encryption, file classification, and memory deallocation.
• Establishes a foundation for secure and accurate data handling in DNA storage.