Microneedle-Assisted Electrochemical Sensor for Real-time Nitrate Monitoring in Tomato Stem
Year: 2026
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: Real-time monitoring of plant nutrient levels is important for improving agricultural productivity and understanding plant physiological responses. Traditional methods for measuring nutrient concentrations in plants often require destructive sampling and laboratory-based analysis, limiting their ability to provide real-time information. In this work, we present a microneedleassisted electrochemical sensing platform designed for minimally invasive monitoring of tomato sap. A $\mathbf{6 . 5 ~ m m} \times$ 6.5 mm base hollow microneedle array was 3D printed using a two-photon polymerization technique and integrated with a screen-printed electrochemical sensor through a mixed cellulose ester (MCE) membrane filter and adhesive spacer assembly. The microneedle array was inserted into tomato plant stems to measure electrochemical responses using cyclic voltammetry. The experiments demonstrate the feasibility of using microneedle-assisted electrochemical sensors to detect nitrate levels in plant sap. The results indicate that this approach can provide a promising pathway toward continuous in situ monitoring of plant nutrient dynamics.
Institutions: The University of Texas at Tyler, Kennedy Space Center
Language: English
Subfield: Analytical Chemistry
Field: Chemistry
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7202290318