Carson Bruns tattoos leg with invisible UV ink developed at University of Colorado Boulder
Nanoscientist Carson Bruns from the University of Colorado Boulder has tattooed his leg with an invisible ink that appears under ultraviolet light.
Ink composition and properties
The new inks consist of photochromic dyes that change color when exposed to specific wavelengths of light. These compounds are reversible, meaning the tattoo can be erased using bright visible light. The team created three distinct colors including magenta, yellow, and blue for testing purposes.
Testing on biological models
Researchers tested the dyes on pig skin and silicone skin to evaluate their performance before human application. This approach adapts materials already used in textiles and transition lenses for glasses into a new medical context. The study results were published in the journal Matter & Light.
Potential medical applications
Scientists suggest these markers could direct radiotherapy to specific areas of the body during treatment procedures. This application represents a new use for photochromic materials implanted permanently in living skin. The technology builds on previous work by Bruns involving Magic Ink.
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