Diabetics monitoring their glucose levels may soon put the days of painful finger-sticks behind them. Instead, they can go through the one-time ordeal of getting inked with a nanoparticle tattoo. Heather Clark, a scientist at Draper Laboratories, has developed a nano ink particle that constantly samples glucose levels in the skin. Injected subcutaneously, the ink changes color in response to glucose content.
The nano ink particles are tiny, squishy spheres about 120 nanometers across. Inside the sphere are three parts: the glucose detecting molecule, a color-changing dye, and another molecule that mimics glucose.
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If the molecules mostly latch onto glucose, the ink appears yellow. If glucose levels are low, the molecule latches onto the glucose mimic, turning the ink purple. A healthy level of glucose has a "funny orangey," color, according to Clark. The sampling process repeats itself every few milliseconds.
From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by tempeh.
I wonder if there is a power consumption and, if so, how that power will be replaced.
Also, I will wait to get this until it can be as accurate as my glucose monitor. For instance--"oh, my tattoo is yellow; how much insulin should I give to get it into the 'funny orangey' zone and not dip into the purple?"
It is a good concept though. In the meantime, I will continue using my glucose monitor, or try to get the thing that attaches to my stomach and broadcasts my blood sugar to my insulin pump every 15 minutes (MiniMed/Medtronic engineering).
The only thing I'm curious about is how long this ink-stuff is good for. Regular tattoos fade over the years. I'm sure this must lose its effectiveness or accuracy at some point.
the important thing i read in this article is indeed "color changing tattoo. I want to get a chameleon tattoo in nanoparticle ink.
i might just have to change my plan of only getting black tats.