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What is Nanotechnology?
Nanotechnology has practical applications in crop improvement through its use in agricultural
biotechnology. A team of Iowa State University plant scientists and chemists (Brian Trewyn,
Francois Torney, Kan Wang and Victor Lin) first used nanotechnology to penetrate rigid plant
cell walls and deliver DNA and chemicals with precise control.
They successfully used nanotechnology to penetrate plant cell walls and deliver a gene and a
chemical that triggers its expression. This application of nanotechnology to plant biology and
agricultural biotechnology has resulted in a significant breakthrough in delivering specific gene
into plant cells.
Gene Delivery: Nanotechnology permits successful delivery of a gene into a plant cell. Till
recently, we were at nature’s mercy when we delivered a gene into a cell. Lin said, “There has
been no precise control as to whether the cells will actually incorporate the gene and express the
consequent protein. With this technology, we may be able to control the whole sequence in the
future. And once the gene is inside the plant cell wall, it opens up whole new possibilities.”
In the future, scientists could use the new technology to deliver imaging agents or chemicals
inside cell walls. This would provide plant biologists with a window into intracellular events.
Controlled Gene Delivery: The gene delivery is possible in a controlled manner. We can bring
in a gene and induce it in a controlled manner at the same time and at the same location. That has
never been done before.
Multiple Gene Delivery: The most tremendous advantage is that several genes can be delivered
into a plant cell at the same time and released them whenever required. With the mesoporous
nano-particles, it is possible to deliver two biogenic species at the same time.
Study of Gene Function: The controlled release of gene in to plant cell will improve the ability
to study gene function in plants. In a separate process, chemicals are used to activate the gene’s
function. The process is imprecise and the chemicals could be toxic to the plant.
In plant, transformation mostly occurs with the use of a gene gun. In order to use the gene gun to
introduce the nano-particles to wailed plant cells, the chemists made another useful modification
on the particle surface. They synthesized even smaller gold particles to cap the nano-particles.
These “golden gates” not only prevented chemical leakage, but also added weight to the nano-
particles, enabling their delivery into the plant cell with the standard gene gun.
Conclusion:
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