Imagine being tattooed with microscopic needles instead of spending hours in a chair. Georgia Institute of Technology researchers have created low-cost tattoos which are easy to administer and can also be used to track neutered animals and cosmetics.
Mark Prausnitz was the primary investigator for the paper. He stated, “We have reduced the needle to make it painless but still deposit tattoo ink into the skin.” The ease of administration could open up new possibilities for cosmetic tattoos.
Prausnitz, Regents’ Professor and J. Erskine Love Jr. Research was presented in the Journal by Prausnitz, Regents’ Professor and J. Erskine Love Jr. Chair at the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. iScienceSong Li, a former Georgia Tech postdoctoral fellow, is the co-author.
The use of tattoos in medicine is to hide scarring and guide repeat cancer radiation treatments. You can also use tattoos instead of bracelets for serious medical issues such as epilepsy or diabetes.
There are many cosmetics that use microneedles, but most of them are for anti-aging. However, the development of microneedle technology to tattoos is still new. Prausnitz is a leading expert in the field. He has been studying microneedle technology for many years. This allows him to administer painlessly drugs and vaccines without using hypodermic needles.
Prausnitz stated that they saw it as an opportunity for microneedle technology and to make tattoos easier to access. While some are willing to take the pain and the time involved in tattooing, others would prefer that the tattoo be applied directly onto the skin without any discomfort.
In order to create a great image tattoos use large needles. It is a tedious and difficult process. Georgia Tech’s microneedles are smaller than a grain if sand. They are made from tattoo ink and encased within a dissolvable matrix.
Li, who was the principal author of this study, said that microneedles made from tattoo ink deposit ink very effectively.
The microneedles may be applied to the skin by pressing them in one time. After a while, they will dissolve and leave the ink behind.
While most microneedle patches are made of hundreds to thousands of tiny needles arranged in squares or circles, they can also be imprinted with letters, numbers and symbols. The microneedles can be arranged in specific patterns to make tattoo designs.
Researchers start by creating a mold that contains microneedles. This pattern forms an image. The researchers fill the mold with tattoo paint and attach a backing to the patch for easy handling. After the ink has dried, the patch can be applied to skin. The microneedles can accommodate tattoo inks in a variety of colors, even black-light pigments that cannot be seen under ultraviolet light.
Prausnitz’s research team has studied microneedles as vaccine delivery methods for years. However, they discovered that tattoos could also be made with them. Prausnitz and his team began to work on tattoos for spayed and neutered animals, with the support of the Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs. However, they soon realized that the technology was also useful for humans.
Privacy was also considered when designing the tattoos. Researchers even developed patches that are sensitive to temperature and light changes. This allows the tattoos to only be visible with UV light, or at higher temperatures. The tattoo can be hidden from the public when it is desired.
According to the study, the tattoos can last at least one year. They are also likely to last forever. This makes them attractive cosmetic choices for those who desire an aesthetic tattoo that is free from infection and pain. To address immediate cosmetic and medical needs, microneedle tattoos can be filled with temporary ink.
You can use microneedle patches to encode information into the skin of your animals. Instead of tagging animals with an ear tag or clipping their ears, you can apply a discreet and painless tattoo.
Prausnitz explained that “the goal isn’t to replace tattoos which, often, are works of beauty made by tattoo artists,” Prausnitz added. We want to offer new possibilities for pets and patients who desire a quick, painless tattoo.
Prausnitz is co-founder of Micron Biomedical which develops microneedle patches technology. The company will eventually make it accessible to patients.
Prausnitz is one of several Georgia Tech researchers who invented the microneedle technology. He also has ownership in Micron Biomedical. The future sale of Micron Biomedical products related to their research will result in them receiving royalties. Georgia Institute of Technology has overseen these potential conflicts of interests.