This Quantum Ink Could Be Injected Under The Skin To Mark People Who Have Been Vaccinated

For nations that have a high rate of vaccination, knowing who have been vaccinated and who have not is a quite challenging task.

To solve that problem, researchers at MIT have created a special kind of ink that can be injected under the skin and is only visible when scanned by a smartphone app.

This low-risk marking system can simplify the whole process of documenting, especially for large-scale vaccination.

According to Kevin McHugh, a researcher of the team, this way of keeping a record can be handy in areas where vaccination cards are unavailable. The system allows for anonymous and quick detection of those who have been vaccinated and those who have not.

The research has the investment of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Bill Gates himself directly asked for the development of this special ink. He is currently working on eliminating measles and polio by vaccinating.

The special tattoo that comes with the vaccines consists of tiny quantum dots, light-reflecting semiconducting crystals. Under infrared light, these dots will glow. The patterns and the vaccine are injected via dissolvable microneedles made from sugar and polymers.

For now, the marking system is still a testing concept. A test conducted on rats proved that the ink is still visible after nine months from the injecting time.

On skin models of humans, the pattern lasted over five years under simulated exposure to sunlight.

This invention might be the first step in creating a new way for data storing, vaccine applications, and biosensing, which in turn the quality of medical care, especially in less-developed countries.