Engineering the Future: Nanoparticle-Based Approaches for Efficient Gene Transfer

Abstract

Plant genetic engineering plays a pivotal role in modern agriculture by enabling the incorporation of beneficial traits such as higher yield, enhanced nutritional quality, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. A crucial step in genetic transformation is gene delivery, which is often species-specific and dictates the success of plant regeneration. Traditional gene delivery methods viz., biological (e.g., Agrobacterium-mediated), physical (e.g., biolistics, electroporation), and chemical (e.g., PEG and liposome-mediated) have been widely employed but are limited by challenges such as low efficiency, tissue damage, random gene integration, and labour-intensive protocols. Recent advancements in nanotechnology offer a promising alternative through the use of nanoparticles as gene carriers. These nano-sized materials exhibit unique advantages, including high cargo-binding capacity, ability to cross the plant cell wall, minimal tissue damage, and enhanced transformation efficiency. Their customizable size, shape, and surface properties make them suitable for diverse plant systems and genetic materials. Despite these advantages, efficient delivery of nanoparticle-gene complexes into plant tissues remains an ongoing challenge. This review explores the latest developments in nanoparticle-mediated gene delivery, highlighting methods such as syringe infiltration, vacuum infiltration, biolistics, magnetofection, ultrasound-assisted delivery, passive diffusion, cellular uptake, and foliar spray techniques. By consolidating current knowledge and methodologies, this review aims to support researchers in optimizing plant gene transformation using nanoparticles, paving the way for more efficient and precise genetic engineering in crops.