Magnetic Nanoparticles: A Unique Gene Delivery System in Plant Science

Abstract

Plant genetic transformation is one of the key technologies for crop improvement in addition to emerging approaches for producing recombinant proteins in plants. Efficient genetic transformation in plants remains a challenge due to the cell wall, a barrier to exogenous biomolecule delivery. Until now, scientists usually transfer the interested genes into plants by Agrobacterium sp., application of some chemicals, and physical techniques (electroporation, microprojectile bombardment, etc.). Recently, nanoparticles including magnetic nanoparticles started to be the most promising materials for any biomolecule delivery including nucleic acids, owing to their ability to traverse plant cell walls without external force and highly tunable physicochemical properties for diverse cargo conjugation and broad host range applicability. In this chapter, we have discussed using nanotechnology through nucleic acid conjugated magnetic nanoparticles with their current status and future prospects in the development of gene transfer methods in plants. We have also discussed the mechanism of their entry and some recommendations for their future perspectives to improve efficacy, stability, and accuracy making it less time-consuming.