A modular microfluidic bioreactor to investigate plant cell-cell interactions

Area of Science:

• Plant Biotechnology
• Bioreactor Engineering
• Synthetic Biology

Background:

• Plant secondary metabolites are valuable for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries.
• Conventional cultivation faces challenges in standardized production due to environmental factors.
• Plant cell fermentation is complex due to multi-pathway and multi-cell type interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a microfluidic bioreactor system that mimics plant tissue cell-cell interactions.
• To enable standardized production of plant-derived compounds.
• To facilitate research in plant cell biology and interorganismal signaling.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a modular microfluidic chip using hot embossing and ultrasonic welding.
• Cultivation of different plant cell types in connected modules for signal and metabolite exchange.
• Proof-of-concept applications including quorum sensing, precursor synthesis, and phytotoxin secretion studies.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated biocompatible and transparent microfluidic chips with sufficient nutrient supply.
• Showcased tobacco BY-2 cell division regulated by a quorum-sensing factor.
• Achieved vindoline production by combining Catharanthus roseus cell strains.
• Enabled operationalization of phytotoxin secretion from Neofusicoccum parvum.

Conclusions:

• The microfluidic bioreactor effectively mimics plant cell interactions and facilitates metabolite production.
• This technology offers a standardized platform for plant cell culture and discovery.
• The system has potential for screening interorganismal chemical signaling and developing new biotechnological applications.