A Near-Infrared Fluorescent Nanosensor for Direct and Real-Time Measurement of Indole-3-Acetic Acid in Plants

Duc Thinh Khong; Kien Van Vu; Benny Jian Rong Sng; Ian Kin Yuen Choi; Thomas K. Porter; Jianqiao Cui; Xun Gong; Song Wang; Nguyen Hoai Nguyen; Mervin Chun-Yi Ang; Minkyung Park; Tedrick Thomas Salim Lew; Suh In Loh; Riza Ahsim; Hui Jun Chin; Gajendra Pratap Singh; Mary B. Chan-Park; Nam-Hai Chua; Michael S. Strano; In-Cheol Jang

doi:10.1021/acsnano.4c13556

journal article·2025-04-29

A Near-Infrared Fluorescent Nanosensor for Direct and Real-Time Measurement of Indole-3-Acetic Acid in Plants

Duc Thinh Khong, Kien Van Vu, Benny Jian Rong Sng, Ian Kin Yuen Choi, Thomas K. Porter, Jianqiao Cui, Xun Gong, Song Wang, Nguyen Hoai Nguyen, Mervin Chun-Yi Ang, Minkyung Park, Tedrick Thomas Salim Lew, Suh In Loh, Riza Ahsim, Hui Jun Chin, Gajendra Pratap Singh, Mary B. Chan-Park, Nam-Hai Chua, Michael S. Strano, In-Cheol Jang

ACS Nano· Volume 19· Issue 16

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Source abstract

Abstract

Auxin, particularly indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), is a phytohormone critical for plant growth, development, and response to environmental stresses like shade avoidance syndrome and thermomorphogenesis. Despite its importance, there is no existing method that allows for convenient and direct detection of IAA in various plant species. Here, we introduce a near-infrared fluorescent nanosensor that directly measures IAA in planta using corona phase molecular recognition with high selectivity, specificity, and spatiotemporal resolution. The IAA sensor can be conveniently functionalized to living plants and localized in various tissues, including leaf, cotyledon, and root tip, with the capability to visualize intrinsic IAA distribution. The IAA nanosensor was further tested in Arabidopsis thaliana leaf with tunable levels of endogenous IAA, in which the sensor measured dynamic and spatiotemporal changes of IAA. We also showed that the IAA sensor can be used for qualitative and quantitative mapping of IAA induction and spatial movement in various plant species undergoing environmental or stress response, such as shade avoidance syndrome, high temperature stress, and gravitropism. This highlights the potential application of IAA sensor for monitoring plant health in agriculture.

Source: openalex_inverted_index · Quality: baseline

Research context

Nanomaterials

OpenAlex topics: Plant Molecular Biology Research · Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms · Light effects on plants

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Disruptive & Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, 1 CREATE Way, Singapore 138602, Singapore

School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637459, Singapore

Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link

National University of Singapore

Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 16 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117558, Singapore

Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 4, Singapore 117585, Singapore

Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Singapore 138634, Singapore

Funding

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program · National Institute of Food and Agriculture · National Research Foundation Singapore

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