Risk of Traditional Tattoo
Tattoos have been developed over years as a decorative art for personalization. They are frequently used by some to celebrate events, to memorialize an important one, to customize individuals and etc. However, traditional tattoo techniques always come with serious side effects including potential health risks, instant pains, and removal problems.
Allergic reactions and skin infection are most common undesired outcome of performing tattoos. It is already known that tattoo inks may contain certain chemicals which are mutagenic (capable of causing mutations), teratogenic (capable of causing birth defects), and carcinogenic (capable of causing cancer). Additionally, there are certain chances that people might be infected with fatal diseases such as AIDS if tattoo pins are not replaced after each tattoo operation.
Instant pains are almost inevitable during tattoo processes. Traditional tattoo processes always involves tattoo pins which carry different inks. These pins penetrate through human cuticular layer and stimulate the nerve cells in the dermis, causing instant dramatic pains. Tattoo removal has always been a problem over years. Tattoo was even considered permanent since it's difficult to remove.
Therefore, our team is targeting at building a method to perform harmless biotattoos.
Introduction to DHA
DHA, the ingredient for self tanning, has been used successfully for about 40 years now. Its unique self tanning ability, skin substantivity and remarkable safety make DHA the most important active substance for sunless tanning.
DHA induces a concentration-dependent formation of brown color complexes through an irreversible non-enzymatic glycosylation of amines or amino groups in skin proteins. This process is known as the Maillard reaction.It was demonstrated by Microscopic studies that DHA-pigment masses distributed irregularly in the keratin layer.
Highly concentrated DHA (around 10%) is generally required to for effective tanning. However, DHA at this concentration range might bring servere dermatitis and other negative side effects to human health. Therefore, in situ synthesis of DHA through enzymatic reactions methods were utilized to continuously produce DHA on desired areas while the DHA concentration remains within a safe range. Here a multi-enzyme system GDH-NOX was employed to effectively produce DHA. To make this process commercially easily accessible, the regeneration of NAD+ was achieved by couplled GDH-NOX multi-enzyme system.
The coupling multi-enzyme system, glycerol dehydrogenases (GDH) and NADH oxidase (NOX) catalyzed the biosynthesis of dihydroxyacetone from glycerol . The enzyme nanorings were formed with the Ni2+ and bis-His coordination of GDH-NOX fused enzymes, which enhance enzyme activity and stability. DHA, the most effective additive for sun-free tanning, was synthesized in suit with cofactor regeneration by designed biomolecular machines. Various patterns and letters can be printed on the skin using packs, providing a safe, painless and easy way for DIY bio-tattoo. The mechanism of the biomolecular machines is as follows
1. Construct GDH-NOX multi-enzyme system for DHA production and cofactor regeneration.
2. Control DHA concentration in a low concentration by regulating enzyme reaction condition.
3. Conduct efficient Bio-tatoo with DHA by in situ synthesis through enzyme nanoring.
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