Engineers and Scientists create First ever living tattoo

In machecutte institute of Technology (MIT) scientists and engineers have created a 3D printing machine capable of manufacturing a living tattoo.

This is made possible as the ink is created from “genetically programmed living cells”.

The first tattoo printed is a tree tattoo, made with living bacteria – each individual branch has a different kind of molecular and cell that reacts differently. When applied to the skin, the tree “lights up” as the compounds react. Because the cells respond differently to stimulation, layers form three-dimensional and interactive pieces.

It’s applied directly to the skin with a printable hydrogel with the bacteria inside.

According to the reports derived from the journal published by MIT the 3D-printed inks have been explored in other areas, like temperature-sensitive ‘polymers’ that work to create heat-responsive, shape-shifting devices, while others move in response to light and dark.

“We can use bacterial cells like workers in a 3-D factory,” Liu says.

Derived from Dazeddigital.com