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Fig. 5 | Journal of Nanobiotechnology

Fig. 5

From: Engineering plants with carbon nanotubes: a sustainable agriculture approach

Fig. 5

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) serve as carriers for genetic material or drug delivery. A The image on the left illustrates the stability of DNA loading on polyethyleneimine (PEI)-single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), whereas the image on the right represents the instability of DNA loading on PEI-SWCNTs, with significant SWCNT agglomeration [186]. B Infiltration of leaves with DNA-loaded PEI-SWCNTs. By infiltrating a higher volume of DNA-PEI-SWCNT solution, the area of penetration can be enhanced [186]. C Confocal microscopy images of wild-type Nicotiana benthamiana (Nb), arugula, wheat, and cotton leaves infiltrated with DNA-PEI-SWCNTs to measure green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression levels in the leaf lamina of each plant species. Scale bars = 50 μm [185]. D Stomata pores allow plasmid DNA (pDNA)–SWCNT complexes to enter the leaf mesophyll. Electrostatic interactions help to condense negatively charged pDNA on the positively charged surface of chitosan-complexed SWCNTs [45]. E Atomic force microscopy (AFM) image of a 1:1 pDNA:CSCOV–SWCNT complex with representative height; 1:6 pDNA:CSCOV–SWNT AFM height image standard deviations (n = 3) are represented by the error bars [45]. F Fluorescence confocal micrographs of isolated protoplasts demonstrate yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) expression from pDNA coupled to CSCOV–SWCNTs (1:6 pDNA:SWCNT w/w ratio) after 24 h [45]. G CNT-mediated DNA delivery into isolated protoplasts and subsequent GFP expression. Enzymatic cell wall degradation extracts of intact and healthy protoplasts from arugula leaves [193]. H Protoplasts incubated with DNA-CNTs display robust GFP expression in the nuclei, whereas protoplasts cultured with free pDNA without CNT nanocarriers do not show strong GFP expression. Red boxes represent areas of interest that are highlighted and expressed with bright-field, GFP, and overlay channels. Scale bars = 25 μm [193]

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