Programmable bacterial tattoo
This disclosure relates to a tattoo decal containing bacteria that can be applied to skin and function as both a monitoring sensor and a visual indicator. In particular, a temporary tattoo containing a bacteria composite that may be selected or “programmed” to sense, detect, or otherwise react to a variety of stimuli for use in a variety of applications and industries is disclosed.
1. A flexible programmable bacterial tattoo comprising:
a flexible adhesive substrate comprising one or more microfluidic channels configured in a predetermined pattern, wherein the flexible adhesive substrate is adhered to a surface;
a water-soluble layer;
a bacterial composite disposed between the water-soluble layer and the adhesive substrate and deposited within the microfluidic channels of the adhesive substrate;
a removable backer engaged to the water-soluble layer, wherein dissolution of the water-soluble layer removes the removable backer; and,
where, in response to an analyte, the bacterial composite within the microfluidic channels of the adhesive substrate exhibits altered motility and generates an optical output or a visual display in the programmable bacterial tattoo.
2. The bacterial tattoo of claim 1 , further comprising an encapsulation layer engaged to the adhesive substrate opposite the bacterial composite, wherein the bacterial composite further comprises one or more bacterial strains encapsulated in a microcapsule distinct from the encapsulation layer.
3. The bacterial tattoo of claim 2 , wherein the encapsulation layer further comprises a porous one-way membrane.
4. The bacterial tattoo of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive substrate comprises a porous one-way membrane.
5. The bacterial tattoo of claim 2 , wherein the microcapsule comprises at least one of agarose or alginate.
6. The bacterial tattoo of claim 1 , wherein the bacterial composite further comprises one or more bacterial strains selected to respond to a particular analyte.
7. The bacterial tattoo of claim 1 , wherein the bacterial composite further comprises one or more bacterial strains, and wherein the one or more bacterial strains are selected to respond to a presence of at least one of a sugar ethanol, ultraviolet radiation, infrared radiation, ionizing radiation, a change in temperature, and other microorganisms.
8. The bacterial tattoo of claim 1 , wherein the bacterial composite further comprises one or more genetically modified bacterial strains.
9. The bacterial tattoo of claim 1 , wherein the optical output occurs within the microfluidic channels of the adhesive substrate, the optical output corresponding to the pattern.
10. The bacterial tattoo of claim 9 , wherein the optical output comprises at least one of fluorescence, colorimetric changes, luminescence, or chemiluminescence.
11. The bacterial tattoo of claim 1 , wherein the bacterial composite further generates an electrical output in response to an analyte.
12. The bacterial tattoo of claim 11 , wherein the electrical output comprises at least one of changes in pH of the bacterial composite or changes in conductivity through the bacterial composite.
13. The bacterial tattoo of claim 1 , wherein altered motility comprises tumbling, swimming, or spreading behavior of bacteria within the bacterial composite.
14. The bacterial tattoo of claim 1 , wherein the visual display is distinct from the pattern.
15. The bacterial tattoo of claim 14 , wherein the visual display comprises the display of an arbitrary image, arbitrary text, arbitrary graphic, or other arbitrary indicia.
16. A flexible programmable bacterial tattoo comprising:
a flexible adhesive substrate comprising one or more microfluidic channels configured in a predetermined pattern, wherein the flexible adhesive substrate is adhered to a surface, and wherein the predetermined pattern presents a logic-based pathway wherein sequential reactions within the programmable bacterial tattoo are governed by “if-then” conditions;
a water-soluble layer;
a bacterial composite disposed between the water-soluble layer and the adhesive substrate and deposited within the microfluidic channels of the adhesive substrate;
a removable backer engaged to the water-soluble layer, wherein dissolution of the water-soluble layer removes the removable backer; and,
where, in response to an analyte, the bacterial composite within the microfluidic channels of the adhesive substrate generates an optical output or a visual display in the programmable bacterial tattoo.
17. The bacterial tattoo of claim 16 , wherein the adhesive substrate comprises a porous one-way membrane.
18. The bacterial tattoo of claim 16 , further comprising an encapsulation layer.
19. The bacterial tattoo of claim 16 , further comprising where the bacterial composite generates an electrical output in response to an analyte.
20. The bacterial tattoo of claim 19 , where the electrical output comprises at least one of changes in pH of the bacterial composite or changes in conductivity through the bacterial composite.