Argus: Water Monitoring through Nanosensors inside Living Plants

Argus: Water Monitoring through Nanosensors inside Living Plants

Argus: Water Monitoring through Nanosensors inside Living Plants

Water is a central abiotic factor amidst the complex interactions of nature. It exists in relation to other biotic factors such as plants, animals and communities of microorganisms. However, our industrial future is currently poised towards a decreasing water quality, reducing fit for consumption and household use. With the need of hour being alternative methods of power and sensing mechanisms (always-on, real-time, sustainable, scalable), we need to look back into the nature, where our artificial mechanisms are originally inspired from.

It is increasingly important for us to explore and capitalize on capabilities that exist in nature, and convergently power our needs through it. In this installation, such a plant bionic future is highlighted. Water-Abiotic, Plants-Biotic together form an ecosystem that can power our real-time water monitoring needs. In doing so sustainably, the developing economies can not only develop locally relevant solutions but also underline such mechanisms as an example for the developed world.

Our current methods of water monitoring are outdated and slow. Fatal toxicity due to industrial heavy metals, on an average takes two weeks to report. Other detrimental indicators of bacteria, radiation and other microorganisms can go unreported for months, often detected too late for humans and crops. In a quest to provide real-time, scalable and electricity free 24x7 water quality monitoring, we showcase a modern method through living plants with nanosensors inside them.

Argus, is a prototype of a bionic plant, with nanosensors inside its leaves. These chemical nanosensors injected inside the leaf stay within the intercellular space. Under normal conditions, these ‘in-vivo’ monitoring sensors produce a visible glow (fluorescence) as an indication of good water quality. When heavy impurities such as Lead/Pb2+ are in water, they are eventually taken up in the plant vasculature. These impurities come in contact with these nanosensors and turn off (or quench) their fluorescence of indicating the presence of toxicity in the environment. Such method of detecting heavy metal toxicity is real-time, showing a visible output within 15mins to 2 hours, in contrast to current lab methods where sample are shipped and total testing takes two weeks or longer.
 
This project is motivated by Flint water crisis, New Jersey school water problems, Austin’s recent water (Mar 2019) advisory and many more. Current trend shows that by the time impurities are usually found in residential or agricultural, it is too late and has previously proven to be fatal. This is because continuous, cheap or off-the-shelf monitoring methods along river beds don’t exist today. Irregularities in industrial waste management has led to depletion of water quality in rivers in many regions. We intend to take a participatory approach and demonstrate eventual pervasive applicability of living plants continuously sampling soil and water quality.
The nanosensing platform of Argus is flexible, in that it can be extended to detect different analytes beyond Lead/Pb2+. This can include turning it into real time bacterial sensors and more. We are currently testing this for real time agricultural applicability in places where bacterial attacks on crops wreak havoc, e.g.: bacteria attacks on Florida’s Orange groves. Currently, real time detection of such bacterial attacks is not possible, and by the time visually it becomes clear that the crop is under attack, it’s usually too late.

Why living plants?
The ecological systems in nature operate with many processes normally invisible to humans. Plants,
one of the primary community of living organisms, have perfected some of these hidden processes
to harness energy for their growth, replication and repairing. A plant is like a natural motor in the environment operating twenty-four hours without electricity. It continuously samples water and with that any impurities as well. Our sensors are based on this capacity of plants, and do not require any electricity to function. Real time detection through these sensors is an added advantage. Additionally, we have also demonstrated cameras that can look spectral output of these sensors that are able to relay the output digitally and remotely.

We believe Argus stands out as innovation for two primary reasons.  Our goal is to grow electronics that can use natural capabilities in the environment. They do not cause any harm to the environment to its species. Such nanosensors are not only a flexible platform for monitoring toxic analyses and bacterial impurities but can also be connected to relay digital output. This opens a whole new realm of digital plant bionics.

Water is a central abiotic factor amidst the complex interactions of nature. It exists in relation to other biotic factors such as plants, animals and communities of microorganisms. However, our industrial future is currently poised towards a decreasing water quality, reducing fit for consumption and household use. With the need of hour being alternative methods of power and sensing mechanisms (always-on, real-time, sustainable, scalable), we need to look back into the nature, where our artificial mechanisms are originally inspired from.

It is increasingly important for us to explore and capitalize on capabilities that exist in nature, and convergently power our needs through it. In this installation, such a plant bionic future is highlighted. Water-Abiotic, Plants-Biotic together form an ecosystem that can power our real-time water monitoring needs. In doing so sustainably, the developing economies can not only develop locally relevant solutions but also underline such mechanisms as an example for the developed world.

Our current methods of water monitoring are outdated and slow. Fatal toxicity due to industrial heavy metals, on an average takes two weeks to report. Other detrimental indicators of bacteria, radiation and other microorganisms can go unreported for months, often detected too late for humans and crops. In a quest to provide real-time, scalable and electricity free 24x7 water quality monitoring, we showcase a modern method through living plants with nanosensors inside them.

Argus, is a prototype of a bionic plant, with nanosensors inside its leaves. These chemical nanosensors injected inside the leaf stay within the intercellular space. Under normal conditions, these ‘in-vivo’ monitoring sensors produce a visible glow (fluorescence) as an indication of good water quality. When heavy impurities such as Lead/Pb2+ are in water, they are eventually taken up in the plant vasculature. These impurities come in contact with these nanosensors and turn off (or quench) their fluorescence of indicating the presence of toxicity in the environment. Such method of detecting heavy metal toxicity is real-time, showing a visible output within 15mins to 2 hours, in contrast to current lab methods where sample are shipped and total testing takes two weeks or longer.
 
This project is motivated by Flint water crisis, New Jersey school water problems, Austin’s recent water (Mar 2019) advisory and many more. Current trend shows that by the time impurities are usually found in residential or agricultural, it is too late and has previously proven to be fatal. This is because continuous, cheap or off-the-shelf monitoring methods along river beds don’t exist today. Irregularities in industrial waste management has led to depletion of water quality in rivers in many regions. We intend to take a participatory approach and demonstrate eventual pervasive applicability of living plants continuously sampling soil and water quality.
The nanosensing platform of Argus is flexible, in that it can be extended to detect different analytes beyond Lead/Pb2+. This can include turning it into real time bacterial sensors and more. We are currently testing this for real time agricultural applicability in places where bacterial attacks on crops wreak havoc, e.g.: bacteria attacks on Florida’s Orange groves. Currently, real time detection of such bacterial attacks is not possible, and by the time visually it becomes clear that the crop is under attack, it’s usually too late.

Why living plants?
A plant is like a natural motor in the environment operating twenty-four hours without electricity. It continuously samples water and with that any impurities as well. Our sensors are based on this capacity of plants, and do not require any electricity to function. Real time detection through these sensors is an added advantage. Additionally, we have also demonstrated cameras that can look spectral output of these sensors that are able to relay the output digitally and remotely.

We believe Argus stands out as innovation for two primary reasons.  Our goal is to grow electronics that can use natural capabilities in the environment. They do not cause any harm to the environment to its species. Such nanosensors are not only a flexible platform for monitoring toxic analyses and bacterial impurities but can also be connected to relay digital output. This opens a whole new realm of digital plant bionics.

nstallation
Installation plan is attached (ref: InstallFloor.jpg), which includes the video and physical installation itself.
Pedestal size for the physical installation is 32"L 18"W 28"H. Darker space preferred with the stipulated audience flow.

Instrumentation:
For an idea about the kind of instrumentation, refer to the picture PhysicalInstallReference.jpg. Please note there's no hexagonal structure anymore and it will be an open setup with the plant visible directly to the audience. There'll be a laser pointing to the plant from one direction and an endoscope (somewhat like this but is being custom built by us) point at the leaf from the other direction. The plant will be on an optical bench and will also a some sort of stability setup as well (reference here).

There'll be 2 x 10-12" HDMI screens showing the output from sensors inside the plant. These will be front facing and hence the installation is better seen from the front, although it's okay for people to walk around it.

A low lit top hanging ring light for the exhibition might be fine but it shouldn't be too sharp.

Video:
Here's a first cut of the video. Please do not share yet.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DZuvx9yR85QgFilWlTW8z-tN0BJxYKN2/view?usp=sharing

Electrical:
Physical installation
6 power outlet needed (for 2 HDMI displays, 1 RPi, 1 endo-miscropscope, 1 )
2 x HDMI cables. All of the cables will need to be routed from the back since we won't be able to drill through the metallic optical table.

Video installation
2 outlets needed (1 for the projector, 1 for the mini computer)

Internet connectivity is preferred.

Argus is a plant with DNA nanosensors inside it that detects Lead (Pb2+ Heavy Metal). Through Argus, we propose a novel water monitoring method where plants provide an optical readout of Lead in water. A DNAZyme is used as sensor assay - double stranded DNA that breaks into single stranded on contact with Pb2+ and bind to single walled carbon nanotubes. This sensor assay can be injected inside the leaf of a plant and stays within the intercellular space.
Following introduction of Pb2+ ions, the fluorescence output is quenched due to release of ssDNA and its binding with the CNT walls. Refer to the picture to see this time resolved output. The reduction in fluorescence is also proportional to the Lead(II) concentration.
Argus is unique for the following reasons:
- No current real-time off the shelf sensors exist for Lead toxicity monitoring. Sample testing takes approximately 1-2 weeks.
- The ‘in-vivo’ (inside plants) rapid detection is interfaced with the digital world
- Sensor platform is not just binary but can also detect concentration values.
- Sensor platform proposed here is extendable and can be used for more analytes beyond Lead/Pb2+. This could mean adding detection for bacterias, other heavy metals or monitoring nuclear towns.
- This sensor scheme doesn't need electricity, since it relies on a plant acting like a motor. Such process is then able to sample water 24 hours a day.

nstallation
Installation plan is attached (ref: InstallFloor.jpg), which includes the video and physical installation itself.
Pedestal size for the physical installation is 32"L 18"W 28"H. Darker space preferred with the stipulated audience flow.

Instrumentation:
For an idea about the kind of instrumentation, refer to the picture PhysicalInstallReference.jpg. Please note there's no hexagonal structure anymore and it will be an open setup with the plant visible directly to the audience. There'll be a laser pointing to the plant from one direction and an endoscope (somewhat like this but is being custom built by us) point at the leaf from the other direction. The plant will be on an optical bench and will also a some sort of stability setup as well (reference here).

There'll be 2 x 10-12" HDMI screens showing the output from sensors inside the plant. These will be front facing and hence the installation is better seen from the front, although it's okay for people to walk around it.

A low lit top hanging ring light for the exhibition might be fine but it shouldn't be too sharp.

Video:
Here's a first cut of the video. Please do not share yet.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DZuvx9yR85QgFilWlTW8z-tN0BJxYKN2/view?usp=sharing

Electrical:
Physical installation
6 power outlet needed (for 2 HDMI displays, 1 RPi, 1 endo-miscropscope, 1 )
2 x HDMI cables. All of the cables will need to be routed from the back since we won't be able to drill through the metallic optical table.

Video installation
2 outlets needed (1 for the projector, 1 for the mini computer)

Internet connectivity is preferred.

Argus is a plant with DNA nanosensors inside it that detects Lead (Pb2+ Heavy Metal). Through Argus, we propose a novel water monitoring method where plants provide an optical readout of Lead in water. A DNAZyme is used as sensor assay - double stranded DNA that breaks into single stranded on contact with Pb2+ and bind to single walled carbon nanotubes. This sensor assay can be injected inside the leaf of a plant and stays within the intercellular space.
Following introduction of Pb2+ ions, the fluorescence output is quenched due to release of ssDNA and its binding with the CNT walls. Refer to the picture to see this time resolved output. The reduction in fluorescence is also proportional to the Lead(II) concentration.
Argus is unique for the following reasons:
- No current real-time off the shelf sensors exist for Lead toxicity monitoring. Sample testing takes approximately 1-2 weeks.
- The ‘in-vivo’ (inside plants) rapid detection is interfaced with the digital world
- Sensor platform is not just binary but can also detect concentration values.
- Sensor platform proposed here is extendable and can be used for more analytes beyond Lead/Pb2+. This could mean adding detection for bacterias, other heavy metals or monitoring nuclear towns.
- This sensor scheme doesn't need electricity, since it relies on a plant acting like a motor. Such process is then able to sample water 24 hours a day.

http://harpreetsareen.com/press

https://vimeo.com/373325461

https://www.newschool.edu/parsons/faculty/harpreet-sareen/

Harpreet is an Assistant Professor of Interaction and Media Design at Parsons School of Design. His research is situated at the intersection of Material Science, Biology and Electronics and draws on the complementary abilities of the biological and artificial worlds. He terms this as 'Convergent Design' and creates cutting edge bionic materials and hybrid substrates that lend themselves for future ecological machinery, sensing systems and interaction design. Harpreet earned a graduate degree in Media Arts and Sciences from the MIT Media Lab and has previously lived and worked in the Austria, India, Japan, Singapore and USA.

His experience spans corporate research wings, studios, museums to academic centers having previously worked at Google Creative Lab, Microsoft Research, MIT Media Lab, Ars Electronica Museum, National University of Singapore, Keio University and more. He has previously been named as MIT Technology Review Under 35 Innovator and has been awarded CHI Golden Mouse, SXSW Interactive Innovation, Fast Company World Changing Ideas among other accolades. His academic work has been published at peer-reviewed conferences like CHI, DIS, IEEE VR and other human computer interaction venues. Harpreet's artwork has been showcased at Ars Electronica Festival, Somerset House, CID Grand Hornu, Garden Museum (Somerset, UK), Tower Hill Botanic Gardens, CID Grand Hornu, MIT Museum among other venues. He has also been invited to TEDx venues and regularly lectures internationally in universities and innovation centers.

Jiefu Zheng
Prof. Pattie Maes, MIT

Brooklyn, New York