In the sci-fi novel The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson, body art has evolved into constantly shifting mediatronic tattoos in-skin displays powered by nanotech robopigments. In the 25 years since the novel was published, nanotechnology has had time to catch up, and the sci-fi vision of dynamic tattoos is starting to become a reality.
The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson includes nanotechnology, the manipulation of materials on an atomic or molecular scale especially to build microscopic devices.
The first examples of color- changing nanotech tattoos have been developed over the past few years, and theyre not just for body art. They have a biomedical purpose. Imagine a tattoo that alerts you to a health problem signaled by a change in your biochemistry, or to radiation exposure that could be dangerous to your health.
You cant walk into a doctors office and get a dynamic tattoo yet, but they are on the way. Early proof-of-concept studies provide convincing evidence that tattoos can be engineered, not only to change color, but to sense and convey biomedical information, including the onset of cancer.
In 2017, researchers tattooed pigskin, which had been removed from the pig, with molecular biosensors that use color to indicate sodium, glucose or pH levels in the skins fluids.
In 2019, a team of researchers expanded on that study to include protein sensing and developed smartphone readouts for the tattoos. This year, they also showed that electrolyte levels could be detected with fluorescent tattoo sensors.
In 2018, a team of biologists developed a tattoo made of engineered skin cells that darken when they sense an imbalance of calcium caused by certain cancers. They demonstrated the cancer-detecting tattoo in living mice.
My lab is looking at tech tattoos from a different angle. We are interested in sensing external harms, such as ultraviolet radiation. UV exposure in sunlight and tanning beds is the main risk factor for all types of skin cancer. Nonmelanoma skin cancers are the most common malignancies in the U.S., Australia and Europe.
To help address this problem, we developed an invisible tattoo ink that turns blue only in UV light, alerting you when your skin needs protection. The tattoo ink contains a UV-activated dye inside of a plastic nanocapsule less than a micron in diameter or thousandth of a millimeter about the same size as an ordinary tattoo pigment.
UV-activated tattoo ink is invisible until exposed to UV light.
The nanocapsule is needed to make the color-changing tattoo particles large enough. If tattoo pigments are too small, the immune system rapidly clears them from the skin and the tattoo disappears. They are implanted using tattoo machines in the same way as regular tattoos, but they last for only several months before they start to degrade from UV exposure and other natural processes and fade, requiring a booster tattoo.
I served as the first human test subject for these tattoos. I created solar freckles on my forearm invisible spots that turned blue under UV exposure and reminded me when to wear sunscreen. My lab is also working on invisible UV-protective tattoos that would absorb UV light penetrating through the skin, like a long-lasting sunscreen just below the surface. Were also working on thermometer tattoos using temperature-sensitive inks. Ultimately, we believe tattoo inks could be used to prevent and diagnose disease.
Temporary transfer tattoos are also undergoing a high-tech revolution. Wearable electronic tattoos that can sense electrophysiological signals like heart rate and brain activity or monitor hydration and glucose levels from sweat are under development. They can even be used for controlling mobile devices, for example shuffling a music playlist at the touch of a tattoo, or for luminescent body art that lights up the skin.
The advantage of these wearable tattoos is that they can use battery-powered electronics. The disadvantage is that they are much less permanent and comfortable than traditional tattoos. Likewise, electronic devices that go underneath the skin are being developed by scientists, designers and biohackers alike, but they require invasive surgical procedures for implantation.
Tattoos injected into the skin offer the best of both worlds: minimally invasive, yet permanent and comfortable. New needle-free tattooing methods that fire microscopic ink droplets into the skin are now in development. Once perfected they will make tattooing quicker and less painful.
The color-changing tattoos in development are also going to open the door to a new kind of dynamic body art. Now that tattoo colors can be changed by an electromagnetic signal, youll soon be able to program your tattoos design, or switch it on and off.
The color-changing tattoos in development are also going to open the door to a new kind of dynamic body art. Now that tattoo colors can be changed by an electromagnetic signal, youll soon be able to program your tattoos design, or switch it on and off. You can proudly display your neck tattoo at the motorcycle rally and still have clear skin in the courtroom.
As researchers develop dynamic tattoos, theyll need to study the safety of the high-tech inks. As it is, little is known about the safety of the more than 100 different pigments used in normal tattoo inks. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not exercised regulatory authority over tattoo pigments, citing other competing public health priorities and a lack of evidence of safety problems with the pigments. So U.S. manufacturers can put whatever they want in tattoo inks and sell them without FDA approval.
So far, there is no evidence that tattoos cause cancer, and one study even found that black tattoos protect against UV-induced skin cancer. Still, many tattoo inks contain or degrade into substances that are known to be hazardous, and health complications including infection, allergy and granuloma have been found in about 2% of tattoos. More research is needed to understand the long-term effects of nano- and microimplants in the skin in general.
A wave of high-tech tattoos is slowly upwelling, and it will probably keep rising for the foreseeable future. When it arrives, you can decide to surf or watch from the beach. If you do climb on board, youll be able to check your body temperature or UV exposure by simply glancing at one of your tattoos.
Carson J Bruns is an assistant professor of mechanical engineering with the ATLAS Institute at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he directs the Emergent Nanomaterials Lab. His groundbreaking work on biomedical tattoos for human health has been featured in his popular TEDx talk, as well as in Inked Magazine.
This article was originally published on The Conversation.
See original here:
Dynamic tattoos promise to warn wearers of health threats - yoursun.com
- What is Nanotechnology? [Last Updated On: June 10th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 10th, 2016]
- Nanotechnology - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: June 10th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 10th, 2016]
- NanoTech Institute - The University of Texas at Dallas [Last Updated On: June 12th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 12th, 2016]
- Nanotechnology News - Nanoscience, Nanotechnolgy, Nanotech ... [Last Updated On: June 19th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 19th, 2016]
- NanoTech Biomachines - Graphene company [Last Updated On: June 22nd, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 22nd, 2016]
- Nanotechnology Companies [Last Updated On: June 22nd, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 22nd, 2016]
- Moore Nanotechnology Systems: Ultra-Precision Machining Systems [Last Updated On: June 22nd, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 22nd, 2016]
- Nanotech 2017 - techconnectworld.com [Last Updated On: September 20th, 2016] [Originally Added On: September 20th, 2016]
- Nanotech 2016 Conference - TechConnect World 2016 [Last Updated On: September 20th, 2016] [Originally Added On: September 20th, 2016]
- Anti-fog Technology | VitreOx | SiO2 NanoTech [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2016] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2016]
- Nanotech - Research [Last Updated On: November 25th, 2016] [Originally Added On: November 25th, 2016]
- Theres Plenty of Room at the Bottom Richard ... - Zyvex [Last Updated On: December 7th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 7th, 2016]
- Lecce debuts Italy's biggest nanotech clean room - ItalyEurope24 (subscription) [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Patent Filed for Nanotech Cloud Seeding Material - Controlled Environments Magazine [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2017]
- Company in Focus: Nanotech Security Corp. (TSXV:NTS) - Midway Monitor [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2017]
- Insider Trading Activity Applied Nanotech Holdings Inc. (OTCMKTS:PENC) Director Bought 1958 shares of Stock - Market Exclusive [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2017]
- This New Nanotech Coating Makes Fingerprints Disappear - Tech.Co [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- Faster-charging, longer-lasting batteries: This startup thinks nanotech is the answer - ZDNet [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- Tech.Co Top Stories: Birthdays, Nanotech, Snapchat, and Black History Month - Tech.Co [Last Updated On: February 19th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 19th, 2017]
- Nanotech startup, Graphene Composites, combines graphene with aerogel to form one of the strongest, lightest, and ... - MENAFN.COM [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2017]
- Nanotech Security Corp. Schedules First Quarter Fiscal 2017 ... - Yahoo Finance [Last Updated On: February 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 23rd, 2017]
- Rise of Silica: Nanotechnology Innovation Creates Opportunity for Novel Product Development - R & D Magazine [Last Updated On: February 24th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 24th, 2017]
- Nanotech incubation centre inaugurated - The Hindu [Last Updated On: February 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 28th, 2017]
- Global Quantum Dot Display(QLED) Market 2017 Ocean NanoTech, Nanosys, QDVision - DailyHover [Last Updated On: March 2nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 2nd, 2017]
- Ti-Nanotech Acquired by Defense Industry Veteran Kevin Ruelas - PR Web (press release) [Last Updated On: March 4th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 4th, 2017]
- Nanotech incubation centre inaugurated - NYOOOZ [Last Updated On: March 4th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 4th, 2017]
- Reviving Frozen Organs: Nanotech May Pave the Way - Live Science [Last Updated On: March 4th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 4th, 2017]
- Nanotech's Possible Hazards Investigated - Controlled Environments Magazine [Last Updated On: March 4th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 4th, 2017]
- Ti-Nanotech Acquired by Defense Industry Veteran Kevin Ruelas ... - Benzinga [Last Updated On: March 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 6th, 2017]
- Nanotech Security Corp (NTS) Price Target Cut to C$1.75 - The Cerbat Gem [Last Updated On: March 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 6th, 2017]
- Nanotech may help bring frozen organs back to life - India.com - India.com [Last Updated On: March 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 6th, 2017]
- Analyst Activity Canaccord Genuity Lowers Its Price Target On ... - Market Exclusive [Last Updated On: March 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 7th, 2017]
- Nanotech may help bring frozen organs back to life - Financial Express [Last Updated On: March 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 7th, 2017]
- New Nanotech Material Could Solve On-Vehicle Hydrogen Storage Problems - The Green Optimistic (blog) [Last Updated On: March 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 7th, 2017]
- Canaccord Genuity Cuts Nanotech Security Corp (NTS) Price Target to C$1.75 - Chaffey Breeze [Last Updated On: March 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 8th, 2017]
- Researchers take big step forward in nanotech-based drugs - Phys.Org [Last Updated On: March 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 8th, 2017]
- FSU researchers take big step forward in nanotech-based drugs - Florida State News [Last Updated On: March 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 9th, 2017]
- Nanotech News - phys.org [Last Updated On: March 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 9th, 2017]
- IBM shrinks data storage to the atomic level in latest nanotech milestone - SiliconANGLE (blog) [Last Updated On: March 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 10th, 2017]
- Huge Step Toward Nanotech-Based Drugs - Controlled Environments Magazine [Last Updated On: March 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 11th, 2017]
- Nanotech Security is undervalued, says Haywood - Cantech Letter [Last Updated On: March 19th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 19th, 2017]
- Flexing nanotech to prevent steel corrosion - The Hindu - The Hindu [Last Updated On: March 19th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 19th, 2017]
- Wanna see the technology of 2050? Check out this futuristic nanotech group - Technical.ly DC [Last Updated On: March 27th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 27th, 2017]
- Nanotech Security Corp (NTS) PT Lowered to C$1.75 - Chaffey Breeze [Last Updated On: March 29th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 29th, 2017]
- New nanotech sponge sucks mercury from water in less than 5 seconds! - ZME Science [Last Updated On: March 31st, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 31st, 2017]
- The Quest for Nanotechnology and the Evolution of Wet and Dry Milling Processes - Powder Bulk Solids [Last Updated On: March 31st, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 31st, 2017]
- Nanotech Sponge Removes Mercury from Water - HazMat Management Magazine (subscription) [Last Updated On: April 3rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 3rd, 2017]
- Nanotech Report: Making Photovoltaics Possible 2017 - Research and Markets - Business Wire (press release) [Last Updated On: April 3rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 3rd, 2017]
- Looking at the Technicals for NanoTech Entertainment Inc (NTEK) - BVN [Last Updated On: April 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 12th, 2017]
- Chemistry faculty member explores DNA and nanotech in latest research project - Penn State News [Last Updated On: April 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 12th, 2017]
- Researchers use nanotech. in photodynamic therapy for cancer - Mehr News Agency - English Version [Last Updated On: April 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 12th, 2017]
- Dealing with e-waste the nanotech way - SciDev.Net [Last Updated On: April 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 12th, 2017]
- Indonesia after nanotech coop. with Iran - Mehr News Agency - Mehr News Agency - English Version [Last Updated On: April 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 13th, 2017]
- Bellicum Pharmaceuticals (BLCM) Reaches $13.98 After 9.00% Up Move; NANOTECH ENTERTAINMENT (NTEK ... - HuronReport [Last Updated On: April 21st, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 21st, 2017]
- Novartis licenses nanotech platform in search of diabetes therapy - The Pharma Letter (registration) [Last Updated On: April 21st, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 21st, 2017]
- Dealing with e-waste the nanotech way - eco-business.com [Last Updated On: April 21st, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 21st, 2017]
- Investor Watch: Checking on Shares of Nanotech Security Corp (NTS.VN) - Stock Rover [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2017]
- Active Stock on Watch: Nanotech Security Corp (NTSFF) - TCT [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2017]
- ASU nanotech startup places fourth in competition - Arizona Business Daily [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2017]
- Market Review: Indicator Watch for Nanotech Security Corp (NTS.V) - Sherwood Daily [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2017]
- Iran to hold intl. nanotech. conf. in May - Mehr News Agency - Mehr News Agency - English Version [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2017]
- $-0.02 EPS Expected for Nanotech Security (NTS); Aegion (AEGN) Shorts Decreased By 0.03% - High Point Observer [Last Updated On: May 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 6th, 2017]
- aligarh: Aligarh's answer to minority tag is nanotech, solar research ... - Economic Times [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2017]
- Nanotech Security Corp (NTSFF) Needle Moving 3.74% - The Times [Last Updated On: May 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 9th, 2017]
- Aligarh Muslim University's answer to minority tag is nanotech, solar research - Economic Times [Last Updated On: May 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 9th, 2017]
- DNA sequencing in zero gravity with handheld nanotech - Cosmos [Last Updated On: May 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 9th, 2017]
- Nanotech 'slingshot' shoots drugs right where they're needed - CBC.ca [Last Updated On: May 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 9th, 2017]
- Hexavest Has Increased By $3.80 Million Its At&T (T) Position ... - Key Gazette [Last Updated On: May 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 11th, 2017]
- Nanotechnology startup Log 9 Materials raises funds from GEMs - VCCircle [Last Updated On: May 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 11th, 2017]
- Matteo Bucci: Using nanotech to produce more megawatts - MIT News [Last Updated On: May 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 11th, 2017]
- Laser-Printed Nanotech Makes Colors That Never Fade - Live Science [Last Updated On: May 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 11th, 2017]
- Laser-Printed Nanotech Makes Colors That Never Fade - Live Science - Live Science [Last Updated On: May 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 11th, 2017]
- NanoTech Entertainment Inc (NTEK) Moving -3.70% in Session - Lenox Ledger [Last Updated On: May 17th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 17th, 2017]
- StoreDot nanotech breakthrough almost instant electric car battery recharge - GameSinners (press release) (blog) [Last Updated On: May 17th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 17th, 2017]
- Paper-thin loudspeakers harness nanotech power - Cosmos [Last Updated On: May 17th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 17th, 2017]
- Nanotech Provides Personalized Cancer Treatment - Controlled Environments Magazine [Last Updated On: May 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 18th, 2017]
- Nanotech Security Corp. Announces Closing of $13.3 Million Bought ... - Marketwired (press release) [Last Updated On: May 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 18th, 2017]
- Israeli research leads to unique nanotech wrinkle cream - ISRAEL21c [Last Updated On: May 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 18th, 2017]
- Performance of Key Industrial Catalyst Boosted by Nanotech - Controlled Environments Magazine [Last Updated On: May 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 18th, 2017]
- Nanotech Security Corp. Announces Closing of $13.3 Million Bought Deal Financing - Marketwired (press release) [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2017]