Researchers at the University of Munich, Germany, have just developed tattoos equipped with sensors capable of giving information on our state of health in real time. The inks of these tattoos change color depending on the changes in our metabolism. They can thus give information on our levels of glucose (an indicator of diabetes) and albumin (which can indicate liver or kidney failure).
Remote diabetes monitoring
For their study, published in the German journal Angewantde Chemie, the scientists applied several tattoos equipped with colorimetric sensors on areas of pigs’ skin. They then changed the pH or glucose or albumin concentrations and found that the colors of the tattooed areas changed accordingly.
For the researchers, this simple and inexpensive technique could allow doctors to monitor their diabetic or renal failure patients remotely. And by developing other colorimetric sensors, it would also be possible to track a patient’s level of dehydration.
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