Context:
Recently, a recent study has demonstrated that tartrazine, a common food dye, can make the skin of living mice temporarily transparent.
Relevance:
Facts for Prelims
Yellow Food Dye:
- Common Name: Known as tartrazine, this synthetic dye falls under the category of azo dyes.
- Appearance: Tartrazine is noted for its lemon yellow hue and is soluble in water.
- Usage: This dye finds its application across a variety of products including dairy items, beverages, desserts, and confectioneries.
Key Findings from Recent Study:
- Light Absorption: Tartrazine is particularly effective in absorbing blue light, which alters its color to orange-to-red when it dissolves in water.
- Visibility Effect: The absorption results in only the orange-to-red spectrum being visible due to the dye’s properties.
- Interaction with Biological Tissues:
- Scattering Reduction: Biological tissues typically scatter light due to their complex makeup of proteins, fats, and fluids. Tartrazine can harmonize with the refractive indices of these components, minimizing scattering and allowing more light to pass through, rendering the skin nearly transparent.
- Wavelength Absorption: It absorbs specific wavelengths, notably in the red light spectrum, altering the interaction of light with tissue.
- Visualization Enhancement: This unique interaction allows for the visualization of blood vessels, internal organs, and muscle movements in real time.
Potential Applications:
- The properties of tartrazine could revolutionize medical procedures by simplifying blood draws, enhancing the effectiveness of laser tattoo removal techniques, and potentially aiding in the early detection of cancers.
-Source: The Hindu
