Scientists at Iowa State University have developed new custom-built mesoporous silica nanoparticles that enable co-delivery of functional DNA and proteins into plant cells.
Members of Kan Wang's research team gather in a Hach Hall meeting area dedicated to the late Victor Lin of Iowa State University and the Ames Laboratory. From left to right are Wang, a professor of agronomy; Justin Valenstein, a doctoral student in chemistry; Susana Martin-Ortigosa, a post-doctoral research associate in Wang's lab; and Brian Trewyn, an associate scientist in chemistry. (Photo by Bob Elbert/Iowa State University)
These advanced nanoparticles pave the way to develop advanced and targeted plant genome editing methods for co-delivering DNA and protein to achieve specific gene modifications in plants to address the raising concern over issues such as soil stresses, plant diseases and new inspect pests.
To synthesize these custom nanoparticles, Kan Wang’s research team upgraded its first-generation mesoporous silica nanoparticles, which it had developed five years ago. The first-generation of these nanoparticles had a small size of 100 nm, which made them unsuitable for carrying bigger functional molecules like enzymes or proteins. Hence, the research team developed the next-generation honeycomb-like nanoparticles with a size of 500 nm using a newly devised technique, which produces bigger identical pouches in the tailor-made nanoparticles. The team also gold plated the whole silica particle before packing in order to enhance protein and DNA binding for more secure delivery of the payload.
In the test to assess the efficiency of the nanoparticles, the researchers packed the pouches with a green florescent protein obtained from jelly fish. This protein served as a photo marker. The scientists then coated the nanoparticles with DNA representing a red protein derived from coral and shot them into plant cells with the help a gene gun. The gold plating provided a cannonball capability to these nanoparticles to enter into the plant cells. Cells that illuminate both green and red colors simultaneously confirmed the co-delivery of both protein and DNA. The research team successfully demonstrated the co-delivery of both DNA and protein in maize, tobacco and onion cells.