Plant Nanobionics

Technology

Professor Michael Strano and colleagues have developed a new approach, termed plant nanobionics, for broadening the potential for plant function. This technology describes an engineered system in which plants are infused with one of several categories of nanostructures, with the purpose of enhancing photosynthesis, increasing stability against damage from reactive oxygen species, and sensing the presence of herbicides, pesticides, and pollutants in the environment. These nanostructures are either single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs) encapsulated by single-stranded DNA; polyacrylic acid nanoceria, a known anti-oxidant; or a conjugate of both.  The nanostructures can be delivered in a non-toxic and non-destructive manner through the leaf lamina, and their sensing capabilities are measured via shifts in their near-IR fluorescence signal.        

Problem Addressed

The possibility of engineering plant tissues for enhancing photosynthesis and monitoring the environment has been largely unexplored.   Plants  that harvest sunlight more efficiently would be highly advantageous when cultivated as sources of alternative energy.  Additionally, sensitively determining plant and soil health can prove important for maximizing agricultural yields and preventing damage from environmental factors, pollution, and pesticides.   However, developing sufficiently sensitive tools for this purpose is challenging, largely due to the complex microenvironments found in plant tissues.    

Advantages     

• Non-toxic 
• Easily multiplexed and delivered to plant tissue
• Highly specific and sensitive with low background