VIDEO: TATTOOS THAT CHANGE COLOUR TO MONITOR GLUCOSE

A team from Harvard and MIT have developed a smart ink that could make tattoos monitor biometrics, like glucose levels, and change colour as a result.

Currently, bodily biomarkers can be monitored through a wardrobe-load of wearables, but it normally needs batteries for power and wireless communication systems to transmit the data. By using bio-sensitive inks (bio-inks), the Harvard and MIT team designed a self-contained ink that works on simple chemical reactions that do not require power for any data processing or transmission.

The ink works by interacting with the body's interstitial fluid, which transfers nutrients into cells and carries waste out of them. The fluid works closely with blood plasma, meaning that it acts as a decent indicator of the chemical concentrations in the blood at a given time.

The project is known as 'Dermal Abyss', and two different forms of the ink have been tested on in vitro patches of pigskin so far. One ink is designed to monitor a patient's blood glucose levels, changing colour from green to brown as the concentration increases. The second ink type tracks sodium concentration to prevent dehydration by turning a brighter green the more sodium is detected.

While the idea of the project is for patients to keep track of certain biometrics just by glancing at their tattoo, the difference in colour might not always be clear to the naked eye.

To take more precise readings, the team has also developed a prototype of an app that can analyze the biometrics with a scan or photo of the ink.

You can find out more about the Dermal Abyss project by watching the video below: