Random\nSanitization in DNA Information Storage Using\nCRISPR-Cas12a

DNA\ninformation storage provides an excellent solution for metadata\nstorage due to its high density, programmability, and long-term stability.\nHowever, current research primarily focuses on the processes of storing\nand reading data, lacking comprehensive solutions for secure metadata\nwiping. Herein, we present a method of random sanitization in DNA\ninformation storage using CRISPR-Cas12a (RSDISC) based on precise\ncontrol of the thermodynamic energy of primer-template hybridization.\nWe utilize the collateral cleavage (trans-activity) of single-stranded\nDNA (ssDNA) by CRISPR-Cas12a to achieve selective sanitization of\nfiles in metadata. This method enables ssDNA degradation with different\nGC contents, lengths, and secondary structures to achieve a sanitization\nefficiency up to 99.9% for 28,258 oligonucleotides in DNA storage\nwithin one round. We demonstrate that the number of erasable files\ncould reach 10<sup>12</sup> based on a model of primer-template hybridization\nefficiency. Overall, RSDISC provides a random sanitization approach\nto set the foundation of information encryption, file classification,\nmemory deallocation, and accurate reading in DNA storage.