Cool chemistry trick allows new tattoos to 'turn on and off'
Researchers created multicolored tattoo inks that are activated by different wavelengths of light, allowing people to hide their tattoos in different scenarios.
Researchers have created a novel tattoo ink that can be turned on and off using light, potentially enabling people to alter or erase permanent body art without resorting to the costly and time-consuming tattoo removal process. The ink, known as PhotoTat, consists of three primary color inks - blue, magenta, and yellow - made with photochromic dyes that change color in response to different wavelengths of light.
These dyes are encased in nanoparticles of PMMA, a medical-grade plastic often used in implants and dermal fillers. When exposed to a 365-nanometer UV LED, the dyes undergo a molecular change, allowing the colors to appear or disappear within seconds. The tattoo's appearance can be customized by activating different portions of the design with varying light wavelengths.
Bruns, one of the researchers, has tested this technology on his own skin, creating a series of tattooed scales that can be individually switched on and off. This innovation could serve practical purposes as well, such as enabling medical tattoos that are visible only when necessary, or concealing such markings for work or social reasons.
Additionally, the technology could be integrated with conventional tattoo ink, allowing hidden PhotoTat elements to appear only upon activation. While the current purple ink is already being commercialized, the team hopes to introduce other colors and make the technology more affordable in the future.
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