Advanced materials for intracellular delivery of plant cells: Strategies, mechanisms and applications

Abstract

Introducing exogenous macromolecular materials, including genetic materials, drugs, peptides into plant cells, referred to as intracellular delivery, is crucial for various plant science applications. This process spans from fundamental biological research, such as genome editing, to applied research aimed at enhancing crop yield, quality, and stress resistance. Nevertheless, it continues to pose a considerable challenge because the plant cell wall acts as a barrier to the delivery of biomolecules. While recent advancements in plant intracellular delivery methods have garnered attention, there is still a lack of a comprehensive review there remains a gap in comprehensive reviews in this domain. This review aims to provide an up-to-date and succinct summary of the latest advancements in various intracellular delivery methods for plant cells, particularly emphasizing advanced materials-based nanotechnology delivery. In particular, nano-mediated delivery methods offer several advantages, including high delivery efficiency and safety, the ability to deliver diverse cargoes across different plant species, and improved resistance to enzymatic degradation. This review systematically analyzes different delivery method (biological, chemical and physical), particularly those utilizing nanomaterials, including their mechanisms, advantages, disadvantages and challenges. It also explores applications, challenges, and future prospects, aiming to inspire innovation and progress in the plant science community.