Gene transfer to German chamomile (L chamomilla M) using cationic carbon nanotubes

Abstract

The use of nanoparticles to transfer genes to plant cells can solve some problems encountered in other gene transfer methods, including limited host range in the use of Agrobacterium, cell wall removal in the use of polyethylene glycol and electroporation, and high cell damage while using a gene gun. In this research, cationic carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were used to transfer ssDNA-FITC to German chamomile cells. The ability of nanoparticles to interact with and protect of DNA against enzymes and ultrasound damages was investigated using 0.8 % agarose gel. To investigate the morphology of CNTs loaded with DNA (Nanotube- Polyethyleneimine/DNA nanoparticles), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used. The biocompatibility effect of CNTs (Nanotube- Polyethyleneimine) on German chamomile cells was also determined by trypan blue staining. Agarose gel images showed that CNTs have a high ability to interact with DNA and can effectively protect it from damage by ultrasound and digestive enzymes. In addition, the SEM images of CNTs/DNA nanoparticles showed that these nanoparticles were rod-shaped with lengths around 100–200 nm. The fluorescence microscope results from German chamomile cells treated with CTNs/ssDNA-FITC nanoparticles showed the ability of these nanoparticles to transfer ssDNA-FITC to German chamomile cells. The results also revealed that the simultaneous use of ultrasound and CNTs significantly increased the transfer efficiency of ssDNA-FITC.