Design and development of a novel plant cuticle model using 3D printing

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The surface of most plant leaves consists of a wax and polymeric barrier called the cuticle which frequently rate-limits the transport of agrochemicals into the plant based on cuticle composition and structure. Currently our limited understanding of the cuticle microstructure, and thus means of modelling this barrier, present an obstacle to the development of effective agrochemicals.This project seeks to understand the cuticle features involved in determining the rate of agrochemical penetration including cuticle composition and crystalline structure. Additive manufacturing will then be used as a means of producing model cuticles displaying analogues of these features for consistent, high throughput agrochemical penetration testing. A particular focus of this project will be the printing of waxes and other organic materials such that they retain, or reproduce, natural structures and features.