Plant genetic transformation using carbon nanotubes for DNA delivery

The possibility of exploiting carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-based nanocarriers to deliver genes into protoplasts, callus and mesophyll explants of plants was examined. Using single-walled CNTs (SWCNTs) at the concentration of 20 μg/ml and multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) at the concentration of 15 μg/ml genetic transformation of Nicotiana tabacum L. mesophyll protoplasts with plasmid pGreen 0029 was carried out and transient expression of reporter yfp gene in the protoplasts was observed. Using SWCNTs at the concentration of 40 μg/ml and MWCNTs at the concentration of 30 μg/ml genetic transformation of N. tabacum callus and leaf explants with nptII gene as a part of plasmid pGreen 0029 was carried out. As a result plant regeneration on selective medium containing 50 mg/lkanamycin was shown. SWCNTs-based nanocarriers de-onstrated their appli-ability to transform protoplasts as well as walled plant cells. Whereas, MWCNTs-based nano-arriers were suitable only for transformation of proto-lasts due to the limiting role of cellulose walls in cell penetration.