A new study from the University of North Carolina (USA) demonstrates a reproducible way to study cellular communication between different types of plant cells by "bioprinting" these cells using a 3D printer. News.ncsu.edu portal.
Studying how plant cells interact with each other and with their environment is key to a better understanding of plant cell functions and can lead to better crop varieties.
Researchers print model plant cells Arabidopsis thaliana and soy, to not only study whether plant cells survive bioprinting—and for how long—but also to understand how they acquire and change their identity and function.
The 3D bioprinting process for plant cells is mechanically similar to using printing ink or plastic, with a few necessary modifications.
Instead of 3D printing ink, scientists are using “bio-ink,” or living plant cells. The mechanics in both processes are the same, except for a few notable differences for plant cells: an ultraviolet filter used to maintain sterility, and multiple printheads to print from different biomaterials simultaneously.
Living plant cells without cell walls, or protoplasts, were bioprinted along with nutrients, growth hormones, and a thickening agent called agarose, a seaweed-based compound. Agarose helps provide cell strength.
The study showed that more than half of the 3D bioprinted cells were viable and divided over time to form small colonies.
The researchers also bioprinted individual cells to see if they could regenerate or divide and multiply. The results showed that root and shoot cells Arabidopsis need different combinations of nutrients for optimal vitality.
Meanwhile, more than 40% of individual soybean embryonic cells remained viable two weeks after bioprinting and also divided over time to form microcells.
3D bioprinting may be useful for studying cellular regeneration in cultivated plants.
Root cells Arabidopsis and soybean embryonic cells are known for high proliferation rates and lack of fixed identifications. In other words, like animal or human stem cells, these cells can become different types of cells.
Bioprinted cells can take on the identity of stem cells; they divide, grow, and express specific genes.
This study demonstrates the powerful potential of using 3D bioprinting to identify the optimal compounds needed to maintain plant cell viability and communication in a controlled environment.
Research published in the journal Science Advances.