High-capacity information storage using peptide-encapsulated hydrogels for long-term data preservation
Abstract Peptide-based data storage offers a promising solution to the escalating digital data crisis. A key challenge is maintaining peptide stability over time after encoding information in amino acid sequences. Here, we present a simple and effective method to preserve peptides using a hydrogel c...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Communications Materials |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-025-00915-y |
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| _version_ | 1849226063863873536 |
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| author | Benxiang Luo Songyan Gao Minghao Wu Xin Dong Xiaoyong Deng Honggang Hu |
| author_facet | Benxiang Luo Songyan Gao Minghao Wu Xin Dong Xiaoyong Deng Honggang Hu |
| author_sort | Benxiang Luo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Peptide-based data storage offers a promising solution to the escalating digital data crisis. A key challenge is maintaining peptide stability over time after encoding information in amino acid sequences. Here, we present a simple and effective method to preserve peptides using a hydrogel composed of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and chitosan that forms a semi-interpenetrating polymer network. This hydrogel responds to temperature and pH stimuli to encapsulate and stabilize peptides from solution. Its thermoresponsive behavior enables efficient peptide concentration through repeated swelling and deswelling cycles. Strong electrostatic interactions between chitosan and peptides result in an ultrahigh data density of 2.44 × 1010 GB g−1. Accelerated aging tests under thermal and enzymatic conditions demonstrate significantly enhanced peptide stability, with original information fully recovered after 3.5 days at 70 °C, equivalent to over 600 years at 9.4 °C. This work establishes a durable, high-capacity platform for long-term peptide data storage. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5deacb76e44c449fabe65ce39e42acee |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2662-4443 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Materials |
| spelling | doaj-art-5deacb76e44c449fabe65ce39e42acee2025-08-24T11:40:47ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Materials2662-44432025-08-016111110.1038/s43246-025-00915-yHigh-capacity information storage using peptide-encapsulated hydrogels for long-term data preservationBenxiang Luo0Songyan Gao1Minghao Wu2Xin Dong3Xiaoyong Deng4Honggang Hu5Institute of Nanochemistry and Nanobiology, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai UniversityInstitute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai UniversityInstitute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai UniversitySchool of Medicine, Shanghai UniversityInstitute of Nanochemistry and Nanobiology, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai UniversitySchool of Medicine, Shanghai UniversityAbstract Peptide-based data storage offers a promising solution to the escalating digital data crisis. A key challenge is maintaining peptide stability over time after encoding information in amino acid sequences. Here, we present a simple and effective method to preserve peptides using a hydrogel composed of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and chitosan that forms a semi-interpenetrating polymer network. This hydrogel responds to temperature and pH stimuli to encapsulate and stabilize peptides from solution. Its thermoresponsive behavior enables efficient peptide concentration through repeated swelling and deswelling cycles. Strong electrostatic interactions between chitosan and peptides result in an ultrahigh data density of 2.44 × 1010 GB g−1. Accelerated aging tests under thermal and enzymatic conditions demonstrate significantly enhanced peptide stability, with original information fully recovered after 3.5 days at 70 °C, equivalent to over 600 years at 9.4 °C. This work establishes a durable, high-capacity platform for long-term peptide data storage.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-025-00915-y |
| spellingShingle | Benxiang Luo Songyan Gao Minghao Wu Xin Dong Xiaoyong Deng Honggang Hu High-capacity information storage using peptide-encapsulated hydrogels for long-term data preservation Communications Materials |
| title | High-capacity information storage using peptide-encapsulated hydrogels for long-term data preservation |
| title_full | High-capacity information storage using peptide-encapsulated hydrogels for long-term data preservation |
| title_fullStr | High-capacity information storage using peptide-encapsulated hydrogels for long-term data preservation |
| title_full_unstemmed | High-capacity information storage using peptide-encapsulated hydrogels for long-term data preservation |
| title_short | High-capacity information storage using peptide-encapsulated hydrogels for long-term data preservation |
| title_sort | high capacity information storage using peptide encapsulated hydrogels for long term data preservation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-025-00915-y |
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