Biology subjects

Coatsworth, P.

Publications and source records attributed to Coatsworth, P..

6 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

A Geometrically Transient Material for Bioelectronic Implants

The outstanding barrier properties of skin make it difficult to obtain reliable physiological information (especially chemical) without the use of implantable bioelectronic sensing devices to directly access the internal biology. The clinical utility of bioelectronic implants however, hinges on a key geometrical optimization problem: devices must scale-down in size to reduce surgical invasiveness while also creating enough space to integrate electronics for wireless power delivery, data exchange, and electrical/electrochemical monitoring. Here, we present a minimally invasive bioelectronic implant with a transient geometry that can be inserted subcutaneously and measures important markers, such as pH, temperature, cardiac and respiratory activity, and levels of lithium, an important element for medical applications. To produce this new class of minimally invasive and foldable implantable sensors, we developed a fabrication method that works with highly flexible substrates to enable multiple-fold miniaturization during implantation. After implantation, the implant autonomously unfolds back to its planar form for continuous wireless operation. We demonstrate the key concepts concerning implantation, operation, and removal through extensive in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo animal experiments. Our approach allows for robust multiplexed monitoring using quick and suture-free insertion procedures and may provide a unique advantage in the transition towards personalized health profiles.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2024

Plant-on-a-chip: continuous, soilless electrochemical monitoring of salt uptake and tolerance among different genotypes of tomato

Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), a high-value crop, exhibit a unique relationship with salt, where increased levels of NaCl can enhance flavor, aroma and nutritional quality but can cause oxidative damage and reduce yields. A drive for larger, better-looking tomatoes has reduced the importance of salt sensitivity, a concern considering that the sodium content of agricultural land is increasing over time. Currently, there are no simple ways of comparing salt tolerance between plants, where a holistic approach looking at [Na+] throughout the plant typically involves destructive, single time point measurements or expensive imaging techniques. Finding methods that collect rapid information in real time could improve the understanding of salt resistance in the field. Here we investigate the uptake of NaCl by tomatoes using TETRIS (Time-resolved Electrochemical Technology for plant Root environment In-situ chemical Sensing), a platform used to measure chemical signals in the root area of living plants. Low-cost, screen-printed electrochemical sensors were used to measure changes in salt concentration via electrical impedance measurements, facilitating the monitoring of the uptake of ions by roots. We not only demonstrated differences in the rate of uptake of NaCl between tomato seedlings under different growth conditions, but also showed differences in uptake between varieties of tomato with different NaCl sensitivities and the relatively salt-resistant "wild tomato" (Solanum pimpinellifolium) sister species. Our results suggest that TETRIS could be used to ascertain physiological traits of salt resistance found in adult plants but at the seedling stage of growth. This extrapolation, and the possibility to multiplex and change sensor configuration, could enable high-throughput screening of many hundreds or thousands of mutants or varieties.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2023

Parallel, Continuous Monitoring and Quantification of Programmed Cell Death in Plant Tissue

The accurate quantification of hypersensitive response (HR) programmed cell death is imperative for understanding plant defense mechanisms and developing disease-resistant crop varieties. In this study, we report an accelerated phenotyping platform for the continuous-time, rapid and quantitative assessment of HR: Parallel Automated Spectroscopy Tool for Electrolyte Leakage (PASTEL). Compared to traditional HR assays, PASTEL significantly improves temporal resolution and has high sensitivity, facilitating the detection of microscopic levels of cell death. We validated PASTEL by transiently expressing the effector protein AVRblb2 in transgenic lines of the model plant Nicotiana benthamiana (expressing the corresponding resistance protein Rpi-blb2) to reliably induce HR. We were able to detect cell death at microscopic intensities, where leaf tissue appeared healthy to the naked eye one week after infiltration. PASTEL produces large amounts of frequency domain impedance data captured continuously (sub-seconds to minutes). Using this data, we developed a supervised machine learning models for classification of HR. We were able to classify input data (inclusive of our entire tested concentration range) as HR-positive or negative with 84.1% mean accuracy (F1 score = 0.75) at 1 hour and with 87.8% mean accuracy (F1 score = 0.81) at 22 hours. With PASTEL and the ML models produced in this work, it is possible to phenotype disease resistance in plants in hours instead of days to weeks.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Facilitating Electrochemical Lateral Flow Assay using NFC-Enabled Potentiostat and Nitrocellulose-based Metal Electrodes

Rapid detection of pathogens at the point-of-need is crucial for preventing the spread of human, animal and plant diseases which can have devastating consequences both on the lives and livelihood of billions of people. Colorimetric, lateral flow assays consisting of a nitrocellulose membrane, are the preferred format today for low-cost on-site detection of pathogens. This assay format has, however, historically suffered from poor analytical performance and is not compatible with digital technologies. In this work, we report the development of a new class of digital diagnostics platform for precision point-of-need testing. This new versatile platform consists of two important innovations: i) A wireless and batteryless, microcontroller-based, low-cost Near Field Communication (NFC)-enabled potentiostat that brings high performance electroanalytical techniques (cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, square wave voltammetry) to the field. The NFC-potentiostat can be operated with a mobile app by minimally trained users; ii) A new approach for producing nitrocellulose membranes with integrated electrodes that facilitate high performance electrochemical detection at the point-of-need. We produced an integrated system housed in a 3D-printed phone case and demonstrated its used for the detection of Maize Mosaic Virus (MMV), a plant pathogen, as a proof-of-concept application.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2023

Time-Resolved Chemical Phenotyping of Whole Plant Roots with Printed Electrochemical Sensors and Machine Learning

Plants are non-equilibrium systems consisting of time-dependent biological processes. Phenotyping of chemical responses, however, is typically performed using plant tissues, which behave differently to whole plants, in one-off measurements. Single point measurements cannot capture the information rich time-resolved changes in chemical signals in plants associated with nutrient uptake, immunity or growth. In this work, we report a high-throughput, modular, real-time chemical phenotyping platform for continuous monitoring of chemical signals in the often-neglected root environment of whole plants: TETRIS (Time-resolved Electrochemical Technology for plant Root In-situ chemical Sensing). TETRIS consists of screen-printed electrochemical sensors for monitoring concentrations of salt, pH and H2O2 in the root environment of whole plants. TETRIS can detect time-sensitive chemical signals and be operated in parallel through multiplexing to elucidate the overall chemical behavior of living plants. Using TETRIS, we determined the rates of uptake of a range of ions (including nutrients and heavy metals) in Brassica oleracea acephala. We also modulated ion uptake using the ion channel blocker LaCl3, which we could monitor using TETRIS. We developed a machine learning model to predict the rates of uptake of salts, both harmful and beneficial, demonstrating that TETRIS can be used for rapid mapping of ion uptake for new plant varieties. TETRIS has the potential to overcome the urgent "bottleneck" in high-throughput screening in producing high yielding plant varieties with improved resistance against stress.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2021

PEDOT:PSS-Modified Cotton Conductive Thread for Mass Manufacturing of Textile-Based Electrical Wearable Sensors by Computerized Embroidery

The textile industry has advanced processes that allow computerized manufacturing of garments at large volumes with precise visual patterns. The industry, however, is not able to mass fabricate clothes with seamlessly integrated wearable sensors, using its precise methods of fabrication (such as computerized embroidery). This is due to the lack of conductive threads compatible with standard manufacturing methods used in industry. In this work, we report a low-cost poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS)-modified cotton conductive thread (PECOTEX) that is compatible with computerized embroidery. The PECOTEX was produced using a crosslinking reaction between PEDOT:PSS and cotton thread using divinyl sulfone as the crosslinker. We extensively characterized and optimized our formulations to create a mechanically robust conductive thread that can be produced in large quantities in a roll-to-roll fashion. Using PECOTEX and a domestic computerized embroidery machine, we produced a series of wearable electrical sensors including a facemask for monitoring breathing, a t-shirt for monitoring heart activity and textile-based gas sensors for monitoring ammonia as technology demonstrators. PECOTEX has the potential to enable mass manufacturing of new classes of low-cost wearable sensors integrated into everyday clothes.

bioengineering↗