QR-DEF: A quantum-resistant hybrid encryption framework with dynamic entropy fusion and biomimetic obfuscation

The growing threat of quantum computing has increased the need for cryptographic frameworks that go beyond classical cryptographic paradigms. Quantum-Resistant Dynamic Entropy Fusion (QR-DEF) is a new hybrid encryption paradigm that integrates lattice-based cryptography, dynamic environmental entropy, and bio-inspired obfuscation to mitigate vulnerabilities in post-quantum and classical paradigms. QR-DEF employs the NTRU lattice-based cryptosystem to create a static Shor's algorithm-resistant "Master Seed" and pulls dynamic entropy from fixed public parameters (e.g., blockchain nonces, weather) to create ephemeral session keys via a chaotic neural network. This combination ensures quantum resilience and forward secrecy without re-encryption overhead. Additionally, the post-encryption DNA-like substitution layer (DNA-LS) adds another level of complexity to the ciphertext through codon mapping and permutation, making frequency analysis more complicated. Benchmarks on an Intel i7-12700K demonstrate QR-DEF's operational efficacy, recording 1.92 Gbps throughput and 5.2 ms latency for 1KB payloads, which is similar to RSA-2048 but with a 60% faster key exchange. The 256-bit ChaCha20-Poly1305 layer in the framework elevates Grover's attack complexity to O(2^128), and blockchain-attested parameters ensure tamper-proof entropy sourcing. Although incurring a 15–20% performance overhead over native NTRU+ChaCha20, QR-DEF's layered security justifies the exchange: DNA-LS obfuscation inflates adversary costs by 33%, and dynamic parameters prevent key reuse risks. Scalability testing showed uniform throughput (1.85 Gbps) for payloads of 1MB, with energy efficiency (0.012 J/operation) being twice that of RSA-2048. QR-DEF's innovations (decentralized entropy feeding, chaotic mixing, and biomimetic confusion) establish a blueprint for adaptable and quantum-insurance cryptography. Harmonizing lattice-based security with environmental uncertainty will effectively bridge the gap between theoretical post-quantum abstractions and practical resiliency, thus offering a strong solution for IoT, distributed systems, and high-risk communications in the post-quantum age.