South Koreans Can Detect Health Through Tattoos

Through tattoos, you can now detect health. (photo: pixabay doc)

JAKARTA - South Koreans may soon be able to carry devices inside their own bodies in the form of bespoke tattoos. These tattoos automatically warn them of potential health problems. This can happen if the science team project comes to fruition.

Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in the city of Daejeon, southwest of Seoul, have developed an electronic tattoo ink made of liquid metal and carbon nanotubes that acts as a bioelectrode.

Connected to an electrocardiogram (ECG) device or other biosensor, it can transmit readings of the patient's heart rate and other vital signs such as glucose and lactate to a monitor. The researchers ultimately aim to be able to ditch the biosensor.

"In the future, what we hope to do is connect a wireless chip that integrates with this ink, so we can communicate, or we can send signals back and forth between our bodies to external devices," said project leader Steve Park, a professor of materials science. and techniques, as quoted by Reuters.

Such a monitor could theoretically be placed anywhere, including in the patient's home.

The ink is non-invasive and is made of particles based on gallium, a soft, silvery metal that is also used in semiconductors or thermometers. Platinum-encrusted carbon nanotubes help conduct electricity while providing durability.

"When applied to the skin, even rubbing the tattoo won't come off, which is not possible with just molten metal," says Park.