Anti-counterfeiting Strategies Research Articles

Shape memory photonic gels enable reversible regulation of photoluminescence: Towards multiple anti-counterfeiting

Rampant counterfeit products have seriously threatened worldwide public security. It is highly desirable yet challenging to develop advanced encryption and anti-counterfeiting strategies. Herein, a fluorophore-doped shape memory photonic gel (SMPG) for high-end multi-mode anti-counterfeiting purposes is developed by synergistically utilizing two collaborative optical signals of structural color and photoluminescence (PL). The SMPG is prepared by polymerizing mixed monomers of poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (PEGMA) and trimethylolpropane ethoxylate triacrylate (ETPTA) in the presence of self-assembled silica nanoparticles (NPs) array, followed by doping Rhodamine B (RhB) in the polymeric matrix and selectively etching the silica NPs. The regular macroporous structures of RhB-doped SMPG can be destroyed temporarily after drying and restored after solvent triggering, and such a variation is reversible, repeatable, and stable. We show that dry RhB-doped SMPG is highly transparent under natural light and exhibits PL under UV light, while wet RhB-doped SMPG exhibits vivid and angle-dependent structural color under natural light and a depressed PL under UV light because of the inhibition of the appearance of photonic bandgap (PBG). As a proof-of-concept, various shapes of anti-counterfeiting tags can be prepared by laser engraving technology, significantly improving the security of anti-counterfeiting tags and shows great potential in the high-end anti-counterfeiting fields.

Integrating Photorewritable Fluorescent Information in Shape‐Memory Organohydrogel Toward Dual Encryption

AbstractAs one of the severe global problems, counterfeiting information has brought a huge negative impact on every aspect of human society. Though various anticounterfeiting strategies, including fluorescent materials, are widely developed for dealing with the above problem, the information security level needs to be further improved due to sophisticated hacking techniques. In this study, an organohydrogel is designed by constructing interpenetrating organohydrogel networks, in which naphthalimide moieties (DEAN, green‐yellow emission) are introduced in hydrophilic poly(N,N‐dimethylacrylamide) (PDMA) hydrogel network and anthracene units (blue emission) are copolymerized in hydrophobic polystearate methacrylate (PSMA) organogel network. Triggered by UV light of 365 nm, the unimer–dimer transition occurs and leads the fluorescent color of organohydrogel to change from blue to faint yellow, making secret information be stored with the assistance of photomasks. Furthermore, by combining crystallization‐induced shape memory performance, dual encryption can be achieved. This fluorescent organohydrogel provides a new idea for fabricating smart materials with the ability of encryption–decryption, which is of great significance in information security protection.

Recent Advances in Polymer Additive Engineering for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Hydrogels.

Hydrogels are hydrophilic polymer materials that provide a wide range of physicochemical properties as well as are highly biocompatible. Biomedical researchers are adapting these materials for the ever-increasing range of design options and potential applications in diagnostics and therapeutics. Along with innovative hydrogel polymer backbone developments, designing polymer additives for these backbones has been a major contributor to the field, especially for expanding the functionality spectrum of hydrogels. For the past decade, researchers invented numerous hydrogel functionalities that emerge from the rational incorporation of additives such as nucleic acids, proteins, cells, and inorganic nanomaterials. Cases of successful commercialization of such functional hydrogels are being reported, thus driving more translational research with hydrogels. Among the many hydrogels, here we reviewed recently reported functional hydrogels incorporated with polymer additives. We focused on those that have potential in translational medicine applications which range from diagnostic sensors as well as assay and drug screening to therapeutic actuators as well as drug delivery and implant. We discussed the growing trend of facile point-of-care diagnostics and integrated smart platforms. Additionally, special emphasis was given to emerging bioinformatics functionalities stemming from the information technology field, such as DNA data storage and anti-counterfeiting strategies. We anticipate that these translational purpose-driven polymer additive research studies will continue to advance the field of functional hydrogel engineering.

Invisible luminescent inks and luminescent films based on lanthanides for anti-counterfeiting

The development of aqueous luminescent anti-counterfeiting materials and high-level anti-counterfeiting strategies are still great challenge. Herein, the luminescent inks emitting green, red, and yellow luminescence were prepared by the coordination between hyaluronic acid (HA) and lanthanides (Tb3+ and/or Eu3+) in water, and the corresponding luminescent films were further prepared by solution casting method. FT-IR and UV–Vis analysis demonstrated the formation of coordination bonds between hyaluronic acid (HA) and lanthanides. Luminescent spectra, luminescent decay curves and digital photographs suggested that the HA-lanthanides composite materials can be used as luminescent inks for anti-counterfeiting, and the corresponding luminescent films can be used as luminescent labels for anti-counterfeiting. More importantly, the multiple information encryption strategies were designed and used for high-level anti-counterfeiting. This work would open a new direction to further expand the functional applications of lanthanides-based luminescent materials.

Spontaneous Formation of Random Wrinkles by Atomic Layer Infiltration for Anticounterfeiting.

Continuous developments of innovative anticounterfeiting strategies are vital to restrain the fast-growing counterfeit markets. Physical unclonable function (PUF)-based taggants allow for a practical solution to provide irreproducible codes for strong authentication. Herein, an advanced anticounterfeiting strategy with multiple security levels was successfully developed using screen printing and atomic layer infiltration (ALI) techniques. Macroscale poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) patterns were fabricated for primary verification. Spontaneous formation of random wrinkles with size in the micrometer scale was achieved on the top surface of screen-printed PDMS patterns due to the anisotropic relief and redistribution of extra compressive stress after Al2O3 infiltration, which can be used for senior authentication by image identification using the artificial intelligence (AI) technique. Furthermore, the complexity and security level of a code, which are proportional to the minutia density, can be adjusted by the morphology of the wrinkles in terms of amplitude and wavelength via the degree of Al2O3 permeation depending on ALI conditions. These spontaneously formed random wrinkles were demonstrated for validation and decoding with AI, exhibiting the merits of being unclonable, nondestructive, universally adaptable, environmentally stable, and mass-producible, and sufficiently adaptable for an industry-suitable authentication strategy.

Nature-inspired robust hydrochromic film for dual anticounterfeiting

SummaryNature-inspired materials have been actively developed for anticounterfeiting applications. Among a variety of stimuli-responsive anticounterfeiting strategies, hydrochromic materials exhibit reversible color change in response to moisture or water and have the advantage of being easy to authenticate. However, the security level of current hydrochromic anticounterfeiting materials is not sufficient for practical applications since they only exhibit a single anticounterfeiting function, where the information switches between visible and invisible. To improve the security level and efficiency of hydrochromic anticounterfeiting materials, here we developed a robust dual hydrochromic material via the self-assembly of polyurethane (PU)-polyelectrolytes colloids with which the desired information can not only switch between visible and invisible but also transform from one pattern to another within 3 s without the need of any external instruments. The bio-inspiration, material design and demonstrated hydrochromic properties might have profound implications for using colloidal complexes to make advanced anticounterfeiting materials.

Gradient-Wrinkled Microparticle with Grayscale Lithography Controlling the Cross-Linking Densities for High Security Level Anti-Counterfeiting Strategies.

Physical unclonable functions (PUFs) enable different characteristics according to the purpose, such as easy to access identification, high security level, and high code capacity, against counterfeiting a product. However, most multiplex approaches have been implemented by embedding several security features rather than one feature. In this paper, we present a high security level anti-counterfeiting strategy using only labyrinth wrinkle patterns with different complexities, which can be used as unique and unclonable codes. To generate codes with different levels in a microtaggant, we fabricated wrinkle patterns with characteristic wavelength gradients using grayscale lithography. The elastic modulus of the polymer substrate and corresponding wavelength after the wrinkling process were controlled by designing the gray level of each subcode region in a gray-level mask image for photopolymerization of the microparticle substrate. We then verified the uniqueness of the extracted minutia codes through a cross-correlation analysis. Finally, we demonstrated the authentication strategies by decoding different minutia codes according to the scanning resolution during the decoding. Overall, the presented patterning method can be widely used in security code generation.

Nature-Inspired Robust Hydrochromic Film for Dual Anticounterfeiting

Nature-inspired nano- and micro-structured materials have been actively developed to modulate light-matter interactions for anticounterfeiting applications. Among a variety of stimuli-responsive anticounterfeiting strategies, hydrochromic materials exhibit reversible color change in response to moisture or water, and have the advantage of being easy to authenticate. However, the security level of current hydrochromic anticounterfeiting materials is not sufficient for practical applications since they only exhibit a single anticounterfeiting function, where the information switches between visible and invisible. To improve the security level, here we develop a dual hydrochromic material with which the desired information can not only switch between visible and invisible but also be transformed from one pattern to another. Polyurethane colloids were used as the base materials, and by controlling the arrangement of PU colloidal particles during the film formation process via different polyelectrolytes and coating approaches, the Skeleton Flower (Diphylleia grayi) petal inspired micro structures are obtained, which can regulate the light path via Mie scattering. The designed polyurethane (PU) colloids based hydrochromic materials exhibit a reversible large change in transparency and fast response time (within 3 seconds) via water stimuli. The bio-inspiration, materials design and demonstrated hydrochromic properties might have profound implications for using polyurethane (PU) colloids to make advanced anticounterfeiting materials.

Counterfeit versus original patronage: Do emotional brand attachment, brand involvement, and past experience matter?

To enhance brand performance and to protect original brands from the unprecedented upsurge of counterfeits, marketers are continuously looking for effective anti-counterfeiting methods. Developing and maintaining emotional brand attachment and brand involvement with consumers have become a strategic marketing endeavor of luxury brands. A significant question bearing both theoretical and practical implications, however, is whether emotional brand attachment or brand involvement is more apposite to warrant a luxury brand’s performance and to safeguard the original brand from counterfeits, which remains unanswered. To address this knowledge gap, a survey was conducted. On the basis of an empirical study, this paper reveals that emotional brand attachment is a more prominent influencer than brand involvement to escalate original brand patronage although the effect of brand involvement is also significant. However, while improved brand involvement pushes consumers to patronize counterfeits, higher emotional brand attachment does not result in increased counterfeit patronage. These effects do not vary as a function of previous experience of either originals or counterfeits. Findings of this research contribute to brand literature by presenting empirical evidence of distinct influence of emotional brand attachment over brand involvement, which represents significant practical implications in relation to strategic brand management and anti-counterfeiting strategies.

I Want It All and I Want It Now. Motivations of Counterfeit Luxury Consumption Among Gcc Consumers

This research investigates the motivations of counterfeit luxury consumption in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Using a Means-End Chain approach, this research uncovers four dominant motivational patterns and complexities that drive affluent GCC consumers to purchase counterfeit luxury products: Value-Consciousness, Belonging, Hedonism and Self-esteem. Luxury brands and policy makers could use these main hidden final values to gain a holistic understanding of consumer motivations and develop stronger anti-counterfeiting strategies to discourage counterfeit consumption.

Full-Color Tunable Fluorescent and Chemiluminescent Supramolecular Nanoparticles for Anti-counterfeiting Inks.

A drive for anti-counterfeiting technology has attracted considerable interests in developing nanomaterials with a wide range of colors and tunable optical properties in solid state. Herein, with a series of conjugated polymers and based on the host-guest driven self-assembly strategy, a color-tunable supramolecular nanoparticle-based system is reported, in which full-color as well as white fluorescence can be achieved. Moreover, this fluorescent platform exhibits reversible photoswitching between quenching and emission by noncovalently introducing a photoresponsive energy acceptor. In addition, an efficient chemiluminescence system with high intensity can also be obtained in a similar manner by introducing a H2O2-responsive energy donor. Significantly, chemiluminescence is advantageous over fluorescence since there is no need for external light irradiation. More importantly, these acceptor/donor-loaded supramolecular nanoparticles exhibit fluorescence/chemiluminescence modulation ability in both solution and solid state. Therefore, this supramolecular system can be employed as fluorescent security inks for anti-counterfeiting strategies and provide a proof-of-principle application.

Product-Counterfeiting can be Controlled in Supply Chains of Automotive Parts Industry

The objective of this paper is to compile information that will help researchers and practitioners to use EFA (Exploratory Factor Analysis) in reference to the relevant anti-counterfeiting strategies in supply chain under deceptive buying environment, in order to make prudent decisions according to the “best industry practices” based on ISO (International Organization for Standardization) available in the automotive industry. Product counterfeiting is a worldwide business issue which effect firm’s supply chain (supply chain sustainability) directly or indirectly. The study used a quantitative research design technique where categorical and numerical variables are used to determine relationships among variables where a survey is used as a main research method. Futuristically, the developed instrument using EFA would lead to the CFA (Confirmatory Factor Analysis) to answer questions regarding validity of the instrument in the concerned population subgroups. This empirical study is done after conducting Initial Survey where pilot testing procedure of Initial instrument was followed to make sure that questions asked were good enough (reliability analysis) to capture the impacts of ANCT-INT (Anti-Counterfeiting Strategies Initiative) on the FSP (Firms’ Supply Performance). The Pilot test process of Initial Survey Instrument is conducted prior to an actual data collection (confirmatory survey) stage that can helps researcher in refining the confirmatory survey instrument. The pilot test is conducted under the patronage of PAAPAM (Pakistan Association of Automobile Parts and Accessories Manufacturers) secretariat in Lahore. The participants involved are the Automotive Engineering firms practicing as the permanent PAAPAM member firms.

‘Too many cooks spoil the broth’ is not to be applied to Chaudhry’s study of illicit trade

Counterfeit and illicit trade is a booming business. Even at a time where law enforcement agencies are clamping down on illicit trade with increasingly sophisticated methods, and manufacturers, authorities, academics and other agencies are encouraging customers to abandon fakes, illicit trade keeps on growing. One way put forward to solve this problem is to adopt a multi-stakeholder perspective in analysing the problem of illicit trade. In the Handbook of Research on Counterfeiting and Illicit Trade, the editor Peggy E. Chaudhry does so by bringing together contributors from various countries and disciplines (academia, customs authorities, the private sector, legal experts …) to share their perspectives on the growth of illicit trade, including counterfeits and Internet piracy; the aim of the book being to provoke discussions and assist stakeholders to eradicate further growth in illicit trade. The book is divided into five parts, which comprise 18 chapters. Part I discusses the need to approach illicit trade in an innovative manner, highlighting key aspects for successful global enforcement such as understanding the criminal opportunity risk for product counterfeiting, and the alarming trend of using illicit trade as a front and a conduit for money laundering and terrorist financing. The first two chapters highlight the connection between organized crime, terrorism and illicit trade, making it clear that there is more to counterfeits than meets the eye. This sets the stage for the last chapter in Part I, which analyses the soft law applicable to trade-based money laundering. Part II provides an overview of governments’ initiatives to thwart illicit trade in the USA, Mexico and China’s e-commerce. Part III, written by industry experts, focuses on counterfeit goods in three high-profile sectors: pharmaceuticals, luxury goods and tobacco. Chapter 9 on luxury goods thus sets out what motivates the purchase of ‘loxury’ (‘low luxury’ as coined by Cesareo, Pastore & Williams) and the evolving responses by companies to counterfeiting over the years. Part IV tackles a dynamic that is fast becoming unavoidable to all in the field of intellectual property: illicit trade and the Internet. Starting off with a general overview of the magnitude of piracy on the Internet, Part IV then discusses the impact of social media on the infringement of intellectual property rights, in particular counterfeits; the shifts caused in the music industry by technological innovations; online branding and the presence of malwares such as ransomware and malvertising on websites offering illicit products and services. The final part, Part V, discusses anti-counterfeiting tactics and their effectiveness. Yang and Sonmez in Chapter 17 review various anti-counterfeiting strategies and assess their efficiency. Their results are summed up in a table, whose conciseness deserves to be highlighted. The other chapters in Part V discuss anti-counterfeiting tactics to diffuse consumer demands, the role of physical and online intermediaries used, knowingly and unknowingly, to produce, supply and distribute counterfeits, and the detection of counterfeits in the supply chain.

Development of Loaded Microspheres for Tamper-Activated Security Features

The ongoing technological fight against counterfeiting demands the development of new anti-counterfeiting strategies based on novel material systems. In this work, we report on a unique material system, employing porous-wall hollow glass microspheres as versatile carriers for functional security materials. To evaluate the feasibility of using these glass microspheres in anti-counterfeiting applications, several deployment configurations and processing routes were developed, whereby microsphere cargo included either (1) precursor functional materials, (2) functional materials, or (3) reactive functional materials. Microspheres were loaded using a wet vacuum technique and subsequently characterized using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, and spectral imaging techniques.

Flexible Three-Dimensional Anticounterfeiting Plasmonic Security Labels: Utilizing Z-Axis-Dependent SERS Readouts to Encode Multilayered Molecular Information

Current surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based anticounterfeiting strategies primarily encode molecular information in single two-dimensional (2D) planes and under-utilize the three-dimensionality (3D) of plasmonic hot spots. Here, we demonstrate a 3D SERS anticounterfeiting platform, extending “layered security” capabilities from 2D to 3D. We achieve this capability by combining 3D candlestick microstructures with 3D hyperspectral SERS imaging to fully resolve at least three layers of encoded information within the same 2D area along the z-axis, notably using only a single probe molecule. Specific predesigned covert images can only be fully recovered via SERS imaging at predetermined z values. Furthermore, our 3D SERS anticounterfeiting security labels can be fabricated on both rigid and flexible substrates, widening their potential usages to curved product surfaces and banknotes.

Anticounterfeiting Strategies of Local Drug Manufacturers in Lagos, Nigeria: Implications for Public Health.

Nigeria has been plagued by counterfeit and poor quality medicines with several studies indicating varying degree of prevalence. Thus, this study is aimed at determining the anticounterfeiting strategies employed by local drug manufacturers in Lagos-Nigeria. The first phase was a descriptive study which involves the use of a self-administered closed ended structured questionnaire to assess the anticounterfeiting strategies employed by local manufacturers in Nigeria. The second phase was an experimental study which involves selection of two classes of most frequently faked drugs identified by the respondents in the first phase. The selected drugs were then subjected to spot checks using the truscan analysis deployed by NAFDAC to identify counterfeit medicine. Anticounterfeiting features on the samples were also examined. The data obtained from phase one were analyzed using SPSS and the data obtained from phase two were entered into the truscan data sheet and analyzed using Chi-squared and ANOVA. Results were considered to be significant at P-value ≤ 0.05. The outcome of the study showed that 83% and 78% of antimalarials drawn from the manufacturing sources and open market respectively passed the truscan spot checks. Similarly, 50% of antibiotics drawn from the two sampling sites passed the truscan checks. There was no significant difference (p ≥ 0.05) between the sampled antimalarials and antibiotics from the manufacturing sources and open market. The current rate of counterfeit medicines is relatively low. Strategies to encourage the use of combination of anticounterfeiting technologies by the manufacturers should be established.

Anticounterfeiting Strategies and Their Influence on Attitudes of Different Counterfeit Consumer Types

ABSTRACTThis article reports the findings of two studies that were designed to determine the effectiveness of several anticounterfeiting strategies on the counterfeit purchasing behavior of the participants, through a mixed methods research approach. In Study 1, in‐depth interviews were conducted with 50 consumers of counterfeit brands in order to investigate their attitudes. Drawing on the results, which revealed four different consumer types (struggle, spurious, indifferent, and liberated), Study 2 was undertaken with a further 128 consumers (32 from each type) to further define each group's type and identify the best anticounterfeit strategies suited to each. The findings suggest that counterfeit purchasing may be reduced if a specific strategy is adapted to suit each typology. Overall, positive rather than negative strategies were found to be more effective for the struggle and spurious consumers compared with indifferent and liberated consumers. The findings also reveal that the acquisition of affordable genuine merchandise may be the key to preventing counterfeit purchasing.

Perspective: Concepts of printing technologies for oral film formulations

Different types of printing methods have recently attracted interest as emerging technologies for fabrication of drug delivery systems. If printing is combined with different oral film manufacturing technologies such as solvent casting and other techniques, multifunctional structures can be created to enable further complexity and high level of sophistication. This review paper intends to provide profound understanding and future perspectives for the potential use of printing technologies in the preparation of oral film formulations as novel drug delivery systems. The described concepts include advanced multi-layer coatings, stacked systems, and integrated bioactive multi-compartments, which comprise of integrated combinations of diverse materials to form sophisticated bio-functional constructs. The advanced systems enable tailored dosing for individual drug therapy, easy and safe manufacturing of high-potent drugs, development and manufacturing of fixed-dose combinations and product tracking for anti-counterfeiting strategies.

High-throughput fabrication of anti-counterfeiting colloid-based photoluminescent microtags using electrical nanoimprint lithography

This work demonstrates the excellent capability of the recently developed electrical nanoimprint lithography (e-NIL) technique for quick, high-throughput production of well-defined colloid assemblies on surfaces. This is shown by fabricating micron-sized photoluminescent quick response (QR) codes based on the electrostatic directed trapping (so called nanoxerography process) of 28 nm colloidal lanthanide-doped upconverting NaYF4 nanocrystals. Influencing experimental parameters have been optimized and the contribution of triboelectrification in e-NIL was evidenced. Under the chosen conditions, more than 300 000 nanocrystal-based QR codes were fabricated on a 4 inch silicon wafer, in less than 15 min. These microtags were then transferred to transparent flexible films, to be easily integrated onto desired products. Invisible to the naked eye, they can be decoded and authenticated using an optical microscopy image of their specific photoluminescence mapping. Beyond this very promising application for product tracking and the anti-counterfeiting strategies, e-NIL nanoxerography, potentially applicable to any types of charged and/or polarizable colloids and pattern geometries opens up tremendous opportunities for industrial scale production of various other kinds of colloid-based devices and sensors.

How should firms deal with counterfeiting?

Purpose– The production and sale of counterfeit products is big business in the international economy. Nowhere is this more evident than in China. This paper aims to review the anti-counterfeiting strategies that have been identified in the literature on counterfeiting.Design/methodology/approach– The paper takes the form of a literature review.Findings– This paper reviews 11 anti-counterfeiting strategies that have been suggested by relevant literature and has identified some of the success conditions. It also finds that firms should seek to take a longer-term view and to protect their technology-based competitive advantage. This is already happening: Japanese blue chip companies have begun to relocate sensitive R&D and high-tech manufacturing away from risky locations and back to Japan.Research limitations/implications– The paper shows that the dominant legal enforcement (perspective) approach has been of limited success and explains the reasons for its failure.Practical implications– The paper concludes that anti-counterfeiting strategies should be seen as complementary rather than as mutually exclusive and that in the long run, as countries get more technologically advanced, governments will develop a strong self-interest in tackling the counterfeit problem themselves.Originality/value– The paper provides a systematic discussion of alternative anti-counterfeiting strategies that have been suggested by the literature and explores their success conditions in some detail.