YELLOW FOOD DYE (Syllabus: GS Paper 2/3 – Health/Sci & Tech)

Context: A recent study has demonstrated that tartrazine, a common food dye, can make the skin of living mice temporarily transparent.

• This innovative technique allows scientists to observe internal organs without invasive procedures.

Yellow Food Dye

• About: It is a synthetic lemon yellow azo dye primarily used as a food coloring.
• Also known as: Tartrazine
• Physical Properties: It has a lemon yellow color and is water-soluble.
• Mechanism:

oRefractive Index Matching: The transparency is achieved by aligning the refractive indices of tissues using a tartrazine solution, reducing light scattering and making the skin transparent.

oLight Interaction: Tartrazine absorbs specific wavelengths, especially red light, altering how light interacts with the tissue to reveal internal structures like blood vessels and muscles.

oReal-Time Visibility: This method allows real-time visualization of internal organs and muscle contractions, aiding in research and medical observations.

oReversibility of Effect: The transparency effect is reversible, and rinsing off the dye restores the skin's original appearance without permanent changes.

• Potential Applications:

oThis technique could simplify blood draws, improve laser tattoo removal, and aid in early cancer detection.

oThis innovation could assist in the early detection of skin cancer and make veins more visible.