In the near future, imagine a world where your health is continuously monitored, not through bulky devices but through an invisible graphene tattoo. Developed at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, these tattoos could soon detect a range of health metrics, including blood pressure, stress levels, and even biomarkers of diseases like diabetes. This technology, though still in its infancy, promises to revolutionize how we monitor health, making it possible to track our bodies’ responses to everything from exercise to environmental exposure in real-time.
Graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms, is key to the development of these tattoos. They are flexible, transparent, and conductive, making them ideal for bioelectronics. The tattoos are so thin and pliable that users won’t even feel them on their skin. In early tests, graphene electronic tattoos (GETs) have been used to measure bioimpedance, which correlates with blood pressure and other vital signs. The real breakthrough here, however, is the continuous, non-invasive monitoring that could enable early detection of conditions that usually go unnoticed until it’s too late.
While still requiring refinement, this technology is advancing rapidly. Graphene still amazes us, but it’s no longer just science fiction. Soon, these tattoos could be a part of everyday life, helping individuals track their health and enabling better preventative care. Since we’re hackers out here – but this is a far fetch – combining this knowledge on graphene production, and this article on tattooing with a 3D printer, could get you on track. Let us know, what would you use graphene biosensors for?
Original photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash
What makes these tattoos? They seem to be super thin tape.
I had the same thought. They reference keeping the sensor patch on for years which seems optimistic when adhered to tissue with daily cell turnover. It makes sense if the goal is to replace frequently when it sloughs.
Really cool idea. Weird word choices.
youre not wrong, Theyre more like kid’s “temporary tattoos”
They claim that their graphene is non-toxic. But I’m not sure if adding more nano-sized particles onto your skin, from where they can probably get into your body and bloodstream, is a good idea.
Set up a lab, do some experimental research, and publish your findings.
Or be cautious and avoid cancer 20 years down the line, when it turns out the published findings were funded by the same companies selling the graphene.
Why bother with the time and expense of research when you can publish directly on Facebook? Much broader reach than medical journals, readily believed by almost everyone, and they just eliminated peer review! /s
It’s made of carbon, we’re made of carbon. What could go wrong?
Dispatches from the most-venoms-are-just-proteins front…
Hey these berries are organic, must be good for you!
“While still requiring refinement, this technology is advancing rapidly. ”
Hopefully still in the US.
Blood sugar levels.
If the graphene is “on” the skin rather than under then it’s only going to be there for a short (waste of) time.
I envision the continuous remote health condition monitoring providing for automated administration of electro-stimulation, or drugs, for induced mood control, or forced sedation.
Or targeted ads, based on whatever neurotransmitter you’re low on at the moment.
Government mandated of course.
Limits to Medicine by Ivan Illich
This will of course not be primarily used for targeted advertising, right?
I’d like something to track my actual blood pressure throughout the day and found that smartwatches are not the way. I’ve tested multiple models and they are off by a lot. A good sensor that could track it would be great. I doubt these will last on the skin, but I’m happy to be proven otherwise.
Well, I have a problem with finding any other than graphene substance in human history that had such level of permanent hype of “in the next … years graphene … will change everything” and absolutely no real use, and at the same time being known for nearly 200(!) years.
What’s with all that superstrong weightless ropes that open a way orbital elevators, bulletproof textile, filters better than reverse osmosis, unique construction materials, hypereffective semiconductors, nanomechanics, whatever stuff I read about all over the media.
Please, somebody, point me to any widespread commercial thing made from graphene. Not with graphene. I mean where graphene plays crucial, irreplaceable role, not just added to have a right to write in ads “with graphene nanoparticles!!!” or to make a thing better in some narrow way by 0.1% .
It’s really sad to see all that “graphene” marketing around and resource losses without single example. Not even funny anymore, just sad.
how would blood pressure be measured by these?
“…imagine a world where your health is continuously monitored…”
Dystopian nightmare. No thanks.
Betteridge’s law of headlines ….