Tattoos are usually considered a form of personal expression, however, now researchers from Europe have created the world's first light-up tattoos based on technology that, in addition to being considered fashionable, also have the ability to warn of possible changes in a person's health.
Researchers from UCL and IIT have developed tattoos with light-emitting technology used in screens and smartphones. Scientists say the technology paves the way for a new type of "smart tattoo" that could have a variety of uses. The technology uses organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) that are applied in the same way as water transfer tattoos.
The OLEDs are made on temporary tattoo paper and transferred to another surface by applying pressure to them, then being wetted with water. According to the researchers, these new light-up tattoos could be combined with other electronic tattoos to perform numerous functions, such as emitting light when an athlete is dehydrated or when a person needs to move away from the sun to avoid burns.
OLEDs could also be incorporated into packaging or fruit to signal when a product has expired. The researchers also pointed out that there is potential for this technology to be used in fashion, for example, to create glowing tattoos. They added that their discovery showed for the first time that OLED tattoos can be made on a large scale and at low cost.
Importantly, these light-up tattoos could also be used in healthcare ,as they would “glow” whenever a patient’s health status changes. Furthermore, the researchers believe that this technology could also be combined with light-sensitive therapies to target cancer cells.
The OLEDs created by the researchers are 2.3 micrometers thick, have an electroluminescent polymer between the electrodes, and an insulating layer between the electrodes and commercial tattoo paper.
