Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 10.4 Nanoparticles aggregates with diameter less than the pore diameter of the cell wall
could easily pass through and reach the plasma membrane
10.3.2 Nanotechnology for Delivering Genetic Materials into
Plants
The NPs which can carry the genetic material into cells efficiently and rapidly
have potential applications in drug delivery, gene transfer in plants, and environ-
mental monitoring. McKnight et al. (
2003
,
2004
) have reported the integration
of plasmid DNA with surface-modified carbon nanofibers in viable cells for con-
trolled biochemical manipulations. The effective integration and delivery of plas-
mid DNA was confirmed from the gene expression, similar to the microinjection
method of gene delivery (Neuhaus and Spangerberg
1990
; Bolik and Koop
1991
;
Segura and Shea
2001
). In plant, treated cells could be regenerated into whole plant
and would allow the expression of the introduced trait. The DNA tethered on carbon
nanofibers without allowing them to get integrated into the host genome will make
it possible to transcribe some of the tethered genes without passing the modified
trait to further generations. The use of fluorescent-labeled starch nanoparticles as
plant transgenic vehicle was reported by Jun et al. (
2008
), in which authors reported
the gene transfer with the help of NP-biomolecule conjugate. The conjugate was
designed in such a way that it binds and shuttles genes across the cell barrier like the
cell wall, cell membrane, and nuclear membrane of plant cells by inducing instan-
taneous pore channels with the help of ultrasound waves. Different genes can be
integrated on the fluorescence-labeled nanoparticle at the same time, and their
imaging with fluorescence microscope makes it possible to understand the move-
ment and expression of exterior genes transferred. Increasing the porosity of the cell
