Nanogold‐Loaded Sharp‐Edged Carbon Bullets as Plant‐Gene Carriers

Abstract

Abstract The higher DNA delivery efficiency into plants by gold nanoparticles embedded in sharp carbonaceous carriers is demonstrated. These nanogold‐embedded carbon matrices are prepared by heat treatment of biogenic intracellular gold nanoparticles. The DNA‐delivery efficiency is tested on a model plant, Nicotiana tabacum , and is further extended to the monocot, Oryza sativa , and a hard dicot tree species, Leucaena leucocephala . These materials reveal good dispersion of the transport material, producing a greater number of GUS foci per unit area. The added advantages of the composite carrier are the lower plasmid and gold requirements. Plant‐cell damage with the carbon‐supported particles is very minimal and can be gauged from the increased plant regeneration and transformation efficiency compared with that of the commercial micrometer‐sized gold particles. This is ascribed to the sharp edges that the carbon supports possess, which lead to better piercing capabilities with minimum damage.