Nanomaterials for Genetic Transformation in Plants

Advances in plant biotechnology increasingly rely on the efficient and precise delivery of genetic materials into plant cells. Conventional transformation methods, such as Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation and particle bombardment, remain indispensable but are limited by species dependency, low efficiency, random genomic integration, and a heavy reliance on tissue culture. Nanotechnology provides a promising new pathway. Due to their unique physical and chemical characteristics, nanoparticles (NPs), such as carbon nanotubes, mesoporous silica, layered double hydroxide nanosheets, metal-based, polymeric, and DNA nanostructures, can traverse the plant cell wall without external aid and therefore can be used to deliver genetic materials, including DNA, RNA, proteins, and CRISPR/Cas ribonucleoprotein complexes. NPs have enabled both transient and stable transformation in various plant species, usually bypassing tissue culture. In addition, NPs can transform molecular cargos directly into targeted organelles and facilitate the generation of transgene-free genetically modified plants, offering new possibilities for precision breeding and crop improvement. Nevertheless, the variation in delivery efficiency, phytotoxicity induced by NPs, the lack of standardized protocols for NPs synthesis and characterization of transformed plants, and unresolved biosafety and regulatory concerns remain significant challenges in using NPs. Advancing will rely on designing stimulus-responsive “smart” NPs, establishing clear global policies, and integrating nanotechnology with multi-omics data and deep phenotyping. This chapter highlights recent advances in the application of NPs for plant transformation.