The integration of materials with living systems opens new avenues for wide-ranging applications and next-generation technology. Engineered living materials (ELMs) have been developed using microorganisms as well as complex biological systems for advanced functional properties. We seek to combine plants or plant tissue with polymeric materials and hydrogels to generate plant cyborgs with new functionalities. Plant cyborgs could increase plant health and harvest yields and therefore make an impact on food security. Also tissues derived from plants make intriguing scaffolds for integration into materials for example for soft robotics. With this long-term vision in mind, we begin this research here by combining leaves and decellularized leaf tissues with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), a temperature responsive hydrogel. As PNIPAM changes reversibly from soluble to insoluble when heated over its LCST (32<sup>o</sup>C), the hydrogel shrinks. We printed PNIPAM onto the surface of (decellularized) leaves with 3-(Trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (TMSPMA) incorporated for adhesion. Another avenue explored is the in situ formation of hydrogels inside the decellularized leaf. The integration of PNIPAM and the plant tissue allows to modulate mechanical properties and control leaf morphology, i.e. folding can be achieved through printed hydrogel patterns on the plant tissue.

Toward plant cyborgs: Hydrogels incorporated into plant tissues enable programmable shape control

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.