Far beyond art, the tattoos have become popular in recent years as a form of social expression among the masses.
However, with the advancement of technology and modernity, these designs on the skin that are so beloved today are increasingly closer to becoming technological pieces that are effective at the time they are being made and after they have healed.
Scientists from Turkey’s Yeditepe University and Istanbul Technical University have created a new technique to implant tattoos capable of communicating (yes!), without the need for wired connection, implants or even external power sources.
Photo: Reproduction
Dubbed by researchers as “nanotattoos”, such designs are based on backscatter, or BNTS (backscattering-based nanotattoo sensorin its acronym in English).
But what is this technology for, anyway?
Its main use is to monitor biometric information and transmit it to a devicesuch as a smartphone, tablet, notebook or even a SmartTV, for example.
The inventors explain that:
“When the painted tag receives radio frequency (RF) signals, it reflects some of the signals to establish an uplink with the smartphone reader, while the device establishes a downlink with it. From these communication links, the device can continuously monitor the nanotattoo and process the information using artificial intelligence algorithms.”
The aim, however, is very simple: to allow humans to monitor certain aspects of health, such as glucose or albumin levels in the blood to control problems related to diabetes, for example.
How does nanotattoo work?
To create a nanotattoo, the inventors used two inks: a black one, composed of conductive graphene airgel, and a white one, composed of zinc oxide and nanowires.
This is placed over the first layer, which also has a tiny bit of airgel to allow the two layers to bond and conductivity. Although it may seem complex, both layers are injected simultaneously, but through different needles.
Studies are still at an early stage, but research teams are working on developing these biosensors as an affordable and reliable way to monitor the health human. However, there are still many steps ahead before this technology goes public.
