Applied DNA Sciences has received a patent covering methods of tagging manmade cellulosic fibers or materials with a DNA tag.

The patent also covers methods of authenticating the nucleic acid-tagged fibers and materials through detection techniques to confirm provenance and authenticity. Manmade cellulosic fibers include viscose, rayon, acetate, lyocell, Tencel, modal and cupro materials. Most such fibers and materials are primarily derived from wood. Their use is moving the textile industry toward greater sustainability, but has also yielded social and environmental concerns related to deforestation and biodiversity. There has been heightened awareness related to the sourcing of wood raw materials from endangered or ancient forests, the social and environmental concerns relating to the chemicals used in production, as well as the amount of energy and water used to manufacture manmade cellulosic fibers. Volume of global manmade cellulosic fiber production more than doubled from 1990 to 2018; and is expected to continue growing at an annual rate of nine per cent through 2024.

Applied DNA Sciences, based in the US, is a provider of molecular technologies that enable supply chain security, anti-counterfeiting and anti-theft technology, product genotyping and pre-clinical nucleic acid-based therapeutic drug candidates. The company continues to collaborate with its global network of manmade cellulosic fiber producers and manufacturers to assure that their brands are verified and traceable.