Crypto-ncRNA: Non-coding RNA (ncRNA) Based Encryption Algorithm

A BSTRACT In the looming post-quantum era, traditional cryptographic systems are increasingly vulnerable to quantum computing attacks that can compromise their mathematical foundations. To address this critical challenge, we propose crypto-ncRNA--a bio-convergent cryptographic framework that leverages the dynamic folding properties of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) to generate high-entropy, quantum-resistant keys and produce unpredictable ciphertexts. The framework employs a novel, multi-stage process: encoding plaintext into RNA sequences, predicting and manipulating RNA secondary structures using advanced algorithms, and deriving cryptographic keys through the intrinsic physical unclonability of RNA molecules. Experimental evaluations indicate that, although cryptoncRNA's encryption speed is marginally lower than that of AES, it significantly outperforms RSA in terms of efficiency and scalability while achieving a 100% pass rate on the NIST SP 800-22 randomness tests. These results demonstrate that crypto-ncRNA offers a promising and robust approach for securing digital infrastructures against the evolving threats posed by quantum computing. Moreover, with the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, RNA-based research has gradually unfolded into a new realm of innovation (Townshend et al. (2021)). Recent studies showed that the dynamic folding processes of RNA molecules intrinsically exhibit physical unclonable functions (PUFs) characteristics (Herder et al. (2014); Li et al. (2022); Luescher et al. (2024); Zhou et al. (2021)), thereby establishing a pathway for designing post-quantum cryptography (PQC) systems (Arapinis et al. (2021); Cambou et al. (2021)).