Publications and Research
Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
Summer 2025
Abstract
With the growth of the space economy worldwide, sustainable and soil-less food systems for long-duration space missions become increasingly important. In this study, Polyethylene Glycol Diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels were experimented with as a biocompatible medium in arugula microgreen growth without utilizing soil. Among the most considerable challenges was the fact that the plants' root growth exceeded the hydrogel capacity, which caused seedling dislodgment and starvation. To combat this, computer-aided design (CAD) was utilized to 3D print different mold designs to try and control root development further. The most promising of these designs were coil and tree-branch molds, promoting lateral or spiral root growth to minimize upward pressure. Hydrogels were synthesized through a photoinitiated polymerization process and tested for seed germination, water capacity, and plant growth performance. Results showed 90% germination within three days, with improved anchoring of plants in bigger, structurally more complicated molds. Dehydration and root confinement remained limiting. This study demonstrates the possibility of employing PEGDA hydrogels as a growth medium for microgreens in space and shows the necessity for careful design of the mold to promote a healthy root system. Mold materials, nutrient supply, and scalability for extraterrestrial agriculture will be the focus of future experiments.
Comments
This poster was presented at the 3rd Annual Celebrating Research Excellence Symposium, July 24, 2025.
Mentor: Prof. Ozlem Yasar (Mechanical Engineering Technology).
This research project was supported by NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project.