Marker Solution to be Applied by Means of an Inkjet Printer

• US 20090311415A1
• Filed: 03/01/2006
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Secutech International Pte Limited
• Original Assignee: Secutech International Pte Limited
• Inventors: Josten, Andre
• Granted Patent: US 8,114,207 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 427/7
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/38 characterised by non-macromolecular additives other than solvents, pigments or dyes
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/50 Sympathetic, colour changing or similar inks
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6816 characterised by the detection means C12Q1/6804 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2563/185 Nucleic acid dedicated to use as a hidden marker/bar code, e.g. inclusion of nucleic acids to mark art objects or animals

Abstract

The invention relates to a marker solution which is to be applied by means of an inkjet printer and contains (i) at least one organic solvent that has a greater steam pressure than water at 20° C. and a water content of less than 50 percent (v/v), (ii) predefined first synthetically produced nucleic acids, and (iii) a nucleic acid-complexing, organic auxiliary agent as components.

Claims

1. A marker solution for application using an inkjet printer, the marker solution comprising:

at least one organic solvent with a higher vapor pressure than water at 20°

C. and a water content of less than 50% (v/v);

specified first synthetically prepared nucleic acids; and

an organic auxiliary agent that complexes the first nucleic acids.

2. The marker solution of claim 1, wherein the marker solution has a higher vapor pressure than water at 20°

C.

3. The marker solution of claim 1, wherein the vapor pressure of the organic solvent or of the marker solution at 20°

C. is higher than 0.025 bar.

4. The marker solution of claim 1, wherein the organic solvent is methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropyl alcohol, butanone, acetone, ethyl ether, benzene or a mixture of at least two of these solvents.

5. The marker solution of claim 1, wherein the concentration of the organic solvent in the marker solution is higher than 50% (v/v).

6. The marker solution of claim 1, wherein the concentration of water in the marker solution is less than 20% (v/v).

7. The marker solution of claim 1, wherein the marker solution additionally contains a dye.

8. The marker solution of claim 1, wherein the first nucleic acids are in single-stranded form.

9. The marker solution of claim 1, wherein the marker solution contains viscous polymers for adjusting the viscosity of the marker solution, or charged molecules for adjusting the conductivity of the marker solution, or both the viscous polymers and the charged molecules.

10. The marker solution of claim 1, wherein the first nucleic acids have a length of 5 to 300 nucleotides.

11. The marker solution of claim 1, it wherein the marker solution contains additional nucleic acids.

12. The marker solution of claim 1, wherein in the solution, the quantitative ratio between the first and the additional nucleic acids is at most 1:

10.

13. The marker solution of claim 1, wherein the concentration of the first or of the first and of the additional nucleic acids in the marker solution is higher than 0.1% (w/v).

14. The marker solution of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary agent complexing the first nucleic acids is a detergent with one or more positive charges.

15. The marker solution of claim 14, wherein the concentration of the detergent in the marker solution is between 0.1% (w/v) and 10% (w/v).

16. The marker solution of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary agent complexing the first nucleic acids is a monomeric or polymeric amine.

17. The marker solution of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary agent is a cationic detergent.

18. The marker solution of claim 17, wherein the cationic detergent is hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide or dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide.

19. The marker solution of claim 1, wherein the first or the additional nucleic acids form complexes with the auxiliary agent that are insoluble in aqueous solution.

20. The marker solution of claim 1, wherein the solubility of the first and of the additional nucleic acids in the marker solution is higher by a factor of 5 than the solubility in an identical solution without the detergent.

21. A method for the production of the marker solution of claim 1, wherein the method comprises:

a) dissolving first synthetically produced nucleic acids in an aqueous solvent or providing first synthetically produced nucleic acids in an aqueous solvent;

b) bringing the first nucleic acids into contact with an organic auxiliary agent that complexes the first nucleic acids, wherein complexes of the first nucleic acids and the auxiliary agent are formed; and

c) mixing the complexes with an organic solvent that has a higher vapor pressure than water at 20°

C.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein complexes that are precipitated in step b) are separated from the aqueous solvent and are dissolved in the organic solvent in step c).

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the vapor pressure of the organic solvent at 20°

C. is higher than 0.025 bar.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the organic solvent is methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropyl alcohol, butanone, acetone, ethyl ether, benzene or a mixture of at least two of these solvents.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the concentration of the organic solvent in the marker solution is adjusted to a value higher than 50% (v/v).

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the concentration of water in the marker solution is adjusted to a value less than 20% (v/v).

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the concentration of the auxiliary agent in the marker solution is adjusted to a value between 0.1% (w/v) and 10% (w/v), in particular between 0.5% (w/v) and 5% (w/v), preferably between 0.7% (w/v) and 3% (w/v).

28. The method of claim 21, wherein a dye is added to the marker solution, to the aqueous solvent or to the organic solvent.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the first nucleic acids are in single-stranded form.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein viscous polymers for adjusting the viscosity of the marker solution and/or charged molecules for adjusting the conductivity of the marker solution are added to the marker solution, to the aqueous solvent or to the organic solvent.

31. The method of claim 21, wherein the first nucleic acids have a length of 5 to 300 nucleotides.

32. The method of claim 21, wherein additional nucleic acids are dissolved in the aqueous solvent in addition to the first nucleic acids, or additional nucleic acids are provided in the aqueous solvent in addition to the first nucleic acids.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the quantitative ratio between the first and the additional nucleic acids is at most 1:

10.

34. The method of claim 21, wherein the concentration of the first or of the first and of the second nucleic acids in the marker solution is adjusted to a value higher than 0.1% (w/v).

35. The method of claim 21, wherein the auxiliary agent is a detergent.

36. The method of claim 21, wherein the detergent is a cationic detergent.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the cationic detergent is hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide or dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide.

38. The method of claim 21, wherein the auxiliary agent is a monomeric or polymeric amine.

39. The method of claim 32, wherein the first and additional nucleic acids are dissolved in the organic solvent at a concentration at which they would not be completely soluble in the organic solvent without the detergent.

40. A method, comprising:

using a marker solution to mark a surface of an object using a printer, wherein the marker solution includes;

at least one organic solvent with a higher vapor pressure than water at 20°

C. and a water content of less than 50% (v/v);

specified first nucleic acids; and

an organic auxiliary agent that complexes the first nucleic acids.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the printer is an inkjet printer.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein the surface is smooth.

43. The method of claim 40, wherein the surface consists of hydrophobic plastic.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the plastic is polyethylene or polypropylene.

45. The method of 40, wherein a marking is formed by applying the marker solution to defined areas and another solution to other areas, the other solution having the same composition as the marker solution, except that it does not contain any first nucleic acids.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the other solution contains second nucleic acids.