Development of a Low-Cost Micro-Environment Device for Root-Nutrient Interaction
This project seeks to develop a microfluidic device that can finely control rapid changes in the micro-environment surrounding the root structure.
The Idea
Standard lab conditions for plant growth typically involve homogeneous nutrient conditions, but actual field conditions are rarely homogeneous. Interesting patterns in root architecture arise from heterogeneous conditions, or even dynamic conditions through time. Such patterning calls into question the underlying, likely non-linear processes among root cells that can generate diverse, plastic architecture. Indeed, understanding such phenomenon is critical for development of true synthetic plant systems. I propose development of a low-cost microfluidic device that can finely control rapid changes in the micro-environment surrounding the root structure. A prototype of such a device could easily be tested with cut vinyl molds for PDMS rather than soft-lithography. The device would produce heterogeneous nutrient conditions along the root structure, either by laminar flow or gradient generation. The goal is to build a proof-of-concept device, and use it in conjunction with fluorescence imaging for a preliminary test of a well-documented growth response to heterogeneous nutrient conditions.
The Team
Dr W. Tyler McCleery,
Postdoctoral researcher, Computational and Systems Biology, John Innes Centre
Dr Ziyi Yu,
Postdoctoral researcher, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge
Dr Zhijun Meng,
Postdoctoral researcher, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge
Project Outputs
Project Report
Summary of the project's achievements and future plans
Project Proposal
Original proposal and application
Project Resources
Workshop protocol.
Progress on the development of a low-cost micro-environment device for root-nutrient interaction
Summary
The plant root system is adapted to forage for nutrients in heterogeneous, dynamic soil conditions. Even crop plants encounter substantial nutrient variability in tilled fields. The Grieneisen Lab at the John Innes Centre is investigating root foraging behaviour in the model system Arabidopsis thaliana, but standard lab techniques are limited to homogeneous, static nutrient media. With OpenPlant funding, the Grieneisen (JIC) and Abell (Cambridge) groups are collaborating to develop a low-cost microfluidic device that can finely control rapid changes in the micro-environment surrounding Arabidopsis root structure. This project has three specific aims: produce a proof-of-concept microfluidic device using standard soft-lithography techniques, replicate this device using low-cost methods, and use the device in preliminary studies to systematically alter the environment around a growing root. To date, we have grown roots in working prototypes built using soft lithography, and we have established a preliminary protocol to fabricate low-cost versions of these devices. In the coming months we will test root growth in the low-cost devices and study root growth in a dynamic or heterogeneous nutrient environment. Accomplishing these remaining objectives is only a matter of time, as there does not appear to be insurmountable technical difficulties.
Report and outcomes
We provide an update for each specific aim as listed in our project proposal:
1) Producing a proof-of-concept microfluidic device that is capable of creating heterogeneous and dynamic nutrient environments for a developing Arabidopsis root:
Z. Yu and Z. Meng have designed and fabricated a device using soft lithography techniques (Fig 1 – Cross Channel Design). W. T. McCleery has developed a small growth chamber for individual seedlings using a phytogel-filled pipette tip, which maintains humidity and encourages root growth into the microfluidic channel (Fig 2 – Plant In Device). Additionally, a network of devices can be combined in parallel to allow multiple plants to grow simultaneously (Fig 3 – Parallel Device Setup). However, testing of this device (individually and multiple in parallel) has shown that the original plan to use a very cheap method of gravity-drip control of flow rates is inadequate for creating a sustained flow of nutrients for the 7 or more days necessary for root growth. To this end, we decided to purchase a duel syringe pump. This device has been used to successfully grow a root, marking a major milestone as a proof of concept (Fig 4 – Root Growth In Device). One further difficulty with the device is being investigated – the pipette tip chamber that holds the seedling is packed with phytogel to encourage sprouting and growth into the device. The phytogel serves a second purpose to plug the positive pressure of the media flow from flooding the pipette tip and seedling. Over several days of the growth, the phytogel in many (but not all) devices tends to lose its rigidity and the media fills the pipette tip (visible in Fig 2). We are looking at modifications to the design to prevent such flooding. More time is necessary to complete testing of this soft lithography device and its ability to precisely control the flow rates necessary for optimal root growth and for creating a heterogeneous micronutrient environment.
Figure 1. Cross channel design
Figure 3. Parallel device setup
Figure 2. Plant in device
Figure 4. Root growth in device
2) Fabricating a viable proof-of-concept device in a low-cost manner:
The low-cost fabrication process is being tested and refined. Xurography methods work well for cutting the vinyl (Fig 5 – Vinyl Mould Cutting). The vinyl thickness is roughly 75 microns. To produce channels of the appropriate size (150-225 microns in height) we have successfully adhered multiple vinyl layers prior to cutting and used these layered moulds in fabrication (Fig 6 – Vinyl Mould Thickness). The PDMS is then measured by volume, mixed with its crosslinker with a plastic fork and spoon and poured over the vinyl mould. We have created a protocol based on these methods, which will need continued updating as better methods are found (Fig. 7 – Low Cost Fabrication, see below). Unfortunately, this vinyl material interacts with the surface chemistry of the PDMS elastomer and crosslinker, preventing a completely solidified device. Z. Yu and Z. Meng are testing different low-cost materials, such as mylar, to allow for solidification. Additionally, microfluidic devices are typically bonded to a substrate such as a glass coverslip of a thin layer of PDMS to seal the channels. Standard soft lithography techniques treat the two surfaces with plasma to allow adhesion. This treatment requires a plasma chamber, which is expensive and unlikely to be found in a standard biology wet lab. Rapid prototyping in soft lithography sometimes relies on clamping methods rather than surface plasma treatment to seal the device from leaks. Due to the expected intricacies of the device channels, we decided against relying on a clamping method. Rather we found a lower cost method of generating plasma. Electo-Tecnic Products manufactures a handheld Corona Plasma Treater Leak Detector. This device costs around 600 GBP and has been shown to work well specifically for bonding PDMS to itself or to glass (Fig 8 – Plasma Bonding). Our preliminary results suggest this bonding technique is adequate.
Figure 5. Vinyl mould cutting
Figure 7. Low-cost fabrication
FIgure 6. Vinyl mould thickness
Figure 8. Plasma bonding
3) Preliminary testing on a fluorescently-tagged root system to measure the effect of heterogeneous and dynamic nutrient conditions on growth:
We have achieved root growth in a channel. Separately, we have prepared the fluorescently-tagged Arabidopsis lines, specifically D2-Venus (auxin response) or TCS-Venus (cytokinin response) as proposed. We have not yet tested these lines in the device as we are still fine-tuning optimal growth conditions in homogeneous nutrient media. We will continue this investigation in the coming months.
In addition to the proposed aims, we have held two internal workshops to share techniques and ensure continuity of ideas. Our first workshop was at Cambridge, where Z. Meng and W. T. McCleery participated in fabricating simple low-cost designs. Later, W. T. McCleery hosted Z. Meng and Z. Yu at JIC along with Grieneisen lab member Binish Mohammad to walk through the entire low-cost fabrication pipeline (Fig 9 – Workshop at JIC). Techniques discussed included design of the device with Inkscape vector graphics software, implementation of the design into Silhouette’s cutting software; vinyl cutting; mould preparation; PDMS pouring, setting and bonding; and fluidics control. We also discussed plant preparation including seed sowing, germination, and growth as well as preparation of the pipette tip growth chamber. An outline of these techniques was compiled in a Workshop Report to aid in creating a detailed protocol of the low-cost device fabrication once refined (WorkshopProtocol.pdf). We continued these workshops with discussions on how to refine and improve the designs.
Workshop at the John Innes Centre