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Drug Delivery in Plants Using Silk Microneedles
Yunteng Cao1, Sally Shuxian Koh2,3, Yangyang Han4
1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|October 17, 2022
Summary
Silk-based microneedles offer precise agrochemical delivery in plants, reducing waste and improving access to deep tissues. This method effectively delivers plant growth hormones, accelerating development and showing broad applicability across diverse crop species.
Area of Science:
- Plant Science
- Agricultural Technology
- Biomaterials
Background:
- Standard agrochemical spray methods face limitations including high loss rates and restricted access to remote plant tissues.
- Novel delivery systems are needed to enhance precision agriculture and facilitate plant research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the plant response to silk-based microneedle application.
- To assess the efficacy of microneedles in delivering physiologically relevant biomolecules, specifically gibberellic acid (GA3).
- To demonstrate the broad applicability of microneedle technology across various plant species.
Main Methods:
- Silk-based microneedles were applied to Arabidopsis thaliana to assess plant response via gene expression analysis.
- Microinjection of gibberellic acid (GA3) was performed on Arabidopsis thaliana mutant ft-10.
- Microneedle efficacy was tested on multiple crop species including tomato, lettuce, spinach, rice, maize, barley, and soybean.
Main Results:
- Gene expression related to Arabidopsis thaliana wounding response decreased within 24 hours post-microneedle application, indicating minimal plant distress.
- Microinjected GA3 in A. thaliana mutant ft-10 effectively accelerated bolting and inhibited flower formation, outperforming traditional spray methods.
- Successful GA3 delivery and physiological effects were observed across a range of monocot and dicot crop species.
Conclusions:
- Silk-based microneedles demonstrate a safe and effective method for precise agrochemical delivery in plants.
- This technology offers a significant advancement over conventional spraying for targeted delivery of plant growth regulators.
- The broad species applicability positions microneedles as a valuable tool for plant science research and agricultural applications.
