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Rewritten Article:
Invisible ink on a prosthetic hand becomes visible under UV light.Credit: Carson Brands
A breakthrough in tattoo technology has been made by nanoscientist Carson Bruns at the University of Colorado Boulder. Bruns, known for his innovative work, successfully tattooed himself with invisible ink that can only be seen under ultraviolet light. This ink, which can be erased using visible light, holds promise for various medical applications, including precise markers for radiation therapy.
The ink contains photochromic dyes that change color when exposed to specific light wavelengths. While similar dyes are commonly found in textiles and transition lenses, their adaptation for use in living skin represents a groundbreaking advancement, according to chemist Haihui Joy Zhang from the University of Sydney.
Working alongside his team, Bruns developed three ink dyes – magenta, yellow, and blue – and conducted experiments on pig and silicone skin. The findings are set to be published in an upcoming issue of matter and light magazine. Notably, Brands had previously introduced a UV-reactive tattoo ink called Magic Ink, which turns magenta under ultraviolet light, and successfully commercialized it in 2024 through his company, HYPRSKN based in Boulder, Colorado.
Chemist Jake Violi from UNSW Sydney lauds the potential of invisible color-changing ink for applications in both cosmetic and medical tattoos, highlighting the versatility of this innovative technology.
Understanding the Science Behind Invisible Ink
Similar to traditional tattoo inks, invisible ink is injected into the dermis layer of the skin, comprised of tiny acrylic glass spheres containing photochromic compounds. Bruns elucidates that each sphere’s photochromes react to light absorption, altering their shape to become more visible. Once exposed to visible light, these bonds are broken, returning the ink to its original invisible state.
Source: www.nature.com
