Bar-Coded Biomaterials - Designing Self-Authenticating Medicines

A single biomaterial will carry its own instructions for when and where to release drugs, and a molecular "barcode" to prove it reached the right target. Personalised medicine demands materials that can be assembled quickly, reach specific cells, and release their payloads in a controlled, patient-specific way. Current biomaterials cannot do all three reliably. This project fills that gap by encoding the assembly, release, and reporting functions directly into the material’s molecular structure. The "bar-coded" design acts as a cipher that can be customised for different diseases and patients, and also allows researchers to trace the drug’s journey through the body. If successful, this work could transform how medicines are manufactured and verified. Instead of relying on external tracking or post-hoc testing, the material itself would authenticate its own performance. This would improve safety in clinical trials, reduce counterfeiting in supply chains, and enable more precise, personalised treatments. The concept may also extend beyond medicine—into any application where a material must self-report its state or location.