LED lighting 'outdated', scientists have a bold idea China lighting network

Imagine, when it gets dark, you can read by glowing plants on the desk, rather than open a lamp, and this is what kind of experience? The Massachusetts institute of technology ( MIT) Engineers in the process of realizing this vision took a critical first step. Engineers will special nanoparticles into the watercress leaves, watercress induced glow nearly four hours. They believe that, through further optimization, the glowing plants will one day will be sufficient to light up a work space. MIT professor of chemical engineering, the study's senior author Michael strano ( Michael

Strano) Said that their vision is to create a plant can be used as a desk lamp of - Don't need to connect the power supply, light source, ultimately comes from the energy metabolism of the crop. Researcher said that the technology can also be used to provide low intensity indoor lighting, or to turn trees into the power supply lamps. Strano said the lighting accounts for about 20% of global energy consumption, and plants able to repair themselves, have their own energy, and have adapted to the external environment. They think that time is ripe. Strano laboratory pioneered a new field called nano bionics ( 植物

nanobionics) , through different types of nanoparticles embedded plants to give new characteristics. The team's goal is to transform plants to replace many functions provided by the electrical devices. Previously, researchers designed to detect explosives and convey the information to the plant of smart phones, also designed to monitor the drought condition of plants. It is reported, luciferase ( luciferase) Is an enzyme that makes fireflies glow. In order to make glowing plants, the MIT team to use the enzyme. Luciferase in one, called fluorescein ( luciferin) Molecules that can make the fluorescein glow. Another is called A coenzyme A, 合作 enzyme

A) Molecules can by removing can inhibit luciferase activity of reaction by-products to help to realize the process of light. Team to pack these three components respectively in different types of nanoparticle carrier. All these nanoparticles by the us food and drug administration ( U。 年代。 食品和药物

管理) Classified as 'is usually considered a safe' materials, each component can help reach the right parts of the plant. Nanoparticles can also prevent these components may cause the concentration of toxin in the plants. The researchers used diameter of nano silicon dioxide (about 10

硅纳米颗粒) Nanoparticles to carrying the luciferase, then respectively using older PLGA polymer ( 聚合物

PLGA) And chitosan particles, chitosan) To carry the fluorescein and coa. In order to make the particles into the plant leaves, researchers will first in the particles suspended in solution, and then immerse the plant in solution, it is exposed to high pressure, make the particles through the tiny pore ( Porosity, stomata) Enter the leaves. Release of fluorescein and coenzyme A buildup of particles in the mesophyll of extracellular space ( That leaves the lining) Small particles, and carrying the luciferase are into the form of mesophyll cells. PLGA particles gradually after the release of the fluorescein, fluorescein into plant cells, the luciferase chemical reactions in the cell, the fluorescein glow. Initially, the team manufacturing plants glow about 45 minutes, after improvement, luminous time increased to 3. 5 hours. Although a 10 cm watercress seedling of one over one thousand of the light is now reading the required illumination levels, but the researchers believe that by further optimization of the concentration and release rate of each component, can increase the amount of light, and prolonged glow. Glow after manufacturing plants depend on the plant gene engineering, but it is a process of trouble, and the light is very weak. And these studies are in tobacco and arabidopsis thaliana, Arabidopsis

thaliana) , they are frequently used for plant genetic research. However, MIT research team development method can be used for any type of plant. At present, in addition to the watercress, they have used arugula, cabbage and spinach to prove it. In the future, MIT hope to develop a method of nanoparticle coating or spray in the plant leaf, to the trees and other large plants into light. Strano said they plan to when the plants are young plants or mature plants on a processing technology, and the entire life cycle in the plant continues to play a role. The research team also showed by adding nanoparticles with fluorescein inhibitors to shut down the light source, it can help them create according to the environmental conditions ( Like the sun) The change and close the light source of plants. It is reported, the study for the U. S. department of energy ( U。 年代。 能源部) The financial support. YanZhiXiang

MIT