Milli-channel array for direct and quick reading of root elongation bioassays

JOANA MACAGNO; MAIA R LESCANO; CLAUDIO L A BERLI

ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY

ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2019 vol. 178 p. 51 - 57

0147-6513

A novel platform to perform systematic analysis and direct reading of root elongation bioassays is presented. Thedevice was designed to include multiplexed microenvironments for the germination and growth of individualseeds, which allows observation by the naked eye or by optical systems, notably cellphone cameras. Prototypeswere fabricated by laser micromachining on a highly transparent material that is fully compatible with biologicalsystems. The effectiveness of the milli-channel array was verified against the conventional system (Petri dish).Lactuca sativawas chosen as a model species and glyphosate as a typical toxic agent. All tests were run accordingto standardized procedures and data analysis was carried out through different statistical indicators such as theroot elongation and germination indexes. Results attained in the milli-channel array were identical to those inPetri dish, with the remarkable benefit that several steps required in the conventional system were avoided,which enormously decreases the operation time and the possibility of experimental errors. Further advantages ofthe milli-channel array are also reported, such as the capability to achieve live imaging of plant organs growththrough a simple experiment. The developed device has been proven to be effective, versatile, easy-to-use, andintegrable to cellphones, which naturally provide facilities for data recording, analysis, and networking. Theseimprovements open the route to novel applications of bioassays in the wide field of ecotoxicology and environmental studies