Holograms for health
Smart holograms are recorded in polymers specifically designed to change in response to
physical, chemical or biological stimuli thanks to the incorporation of functional or reactive
groups. Thus, the hologram itself provides both the polymer matrix that responds to a particular
stimulus or substance one is trying to measure, and also the means to visualize the response.
For example, a green smart hologram sprayed with ethanol to simulate a Breathalyser test for
alcohol on expired breath turns blue when the polymer contracts. The frames were obtained at
20 ms intervals.