Carson Bruns, a nanoscientist at the University of Colorado Boulder, has developed a groundbreaking tattoo ink that becomes visible only under ultraviolet light and can be erased with bright visible light. This innovative ink, made from photochromic dyes, could revolutionize medical tattooing by providing temporary markers for procedures like radiotherapy. These dyes, which change color when exposed to specific light wavelengths, are already used in textiles and glasses but are now being adapted for use in human skin. Bruns and his team have created magenta, yellow, and blue inks, tested on pig and silicone skin, and published their findings in the journal Matter & Light. This development, commercialized through the start-up HYPRSKN, holds promise for both cosmetic and medical applications, offering a new dimension to tattoo technology.
QUESTION: How might the development of invisible tattoo inks impact the future of medical procedures and personal expression?
Watch this invisible tattoo appear under UV light
