Argus Nanosensors Inside Plants

Argus Nanosensors Inside Plants
by Harpreet Singh Sareen

• Awarded April 15, 2021
• CLIENT: Parsons School of Design
• 561.375

Argus is a living plant with nano sensors inside its leaves that continuously monitor water for heavy metal impurities. Nanometer scale chemical-based sensors are injected inside the leaves through pressure injection. These sensors produce a visible glow on the leaf of a plant. Argus, a bio-hybrid plant, naturally samples water in the environment and any impurities that come along with it. When lead impurities from the environment come in contact with these sensors, the florescence is quenched to indicate that there are impurities in the environment.