Recent Patents on Biotechnology 2012, 6, 69-79
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Application of Novel Nanotechnology Strategies in Plant Biotransformation: A Contemporary Overview Mehrnaz S. Ohadi Rafsanjani1, Amene Alvari1, M. Samim2, M. Amin Hejazi3 and M.Z. Abdin1* 1
Dept. of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi-62, India; 2Dept. of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi-62, India; 3Dept. of Agriculture Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran (ABRII), Tabriz, Iran Received: October 17, 2011
Revised: December 17, 2011
Accepted: January 03, 2012
Abstract: During the past epoch we have gone through the remarkable progress in plant gene transformation technology. The production of transgenic plants is considered as a valuable tool in plant research and the technology is extensively applied in phytomedicines and agricultural research. Gene transformation in plants is normally carried out by Agrobacterium species, application of some chemicals and physical techniques (electroporation, microprojectile, etc.). Now a days with better efficacy and reproducibility, novel technologies for the direct gene transfer like liposome, positively charged liposome (lipofectin) and nanoparticle based delivery systems are used for genetic transformation of plants. In this review, we have enlightened the novel nanotechnologies like liposome, Carbon nano-tube and nanoparticles with their current status and future prospects in transgenic plant development. Moreover, we have also highlighted the limitations of conventional techniques of gene transfer. Furthermore, we have tried to postulate innovative ideas on the footprints of established nanotechnology and chemical based strategy with improved efficacy, reproducibility and accuracy along with less time consumption.
Keywords: Biotransformation, Nanotechnology, Liposome, Lipofectin, Nanoparticle. INTRODUCTION Plant tissue culture technique is an essential tool in agricultural and medicinal plant research. It relies on maintaining plant cells in controlled aseptic condition on a suitable nutrient medium. The culture can be sustained as a mass of undifferentiated cells for an extended period of time or regenerated into whole plants. For the production of secondary plant metabolites and regeneration of plant with improved nutritional quality, higher yields and tolerance against biotic and abiotic stresses, newer genes need to be introduced in the preexisting plants with normal physio and phytochemical properties [1-3]. Till now tissue culture is grown at a mature level in each respective area of gene transfer like protoplast fusion [2, 4-6], physical method (electroporation, particle bombardment, micro-injection, etc.), direct gene transfer techniques (protoplast fusion, transfection), gene transfer using plasma membrane destabilizing/precipitating agents (chemicals that facilitate the gene transfer through the cell membrane, for example, polyethylene glycol 6000, polyvinyl alcohol, NaNO3, DEAE, Dextran, DMSO) [7-14] and natural means of gene transfer such as the use of Agrobacterium species [15, 16]. Although these conventional methods are effective in gene transfer, but their effectiveness and efficiency are compromised over the rapidity as the application of excessive energy in physical methods as well as the excess chemicals utilized in chemical methods damage the DNA and cells [6]. Encapsulation of gene into biocompatible carriers is expected to enhance the biotransformation process and related outcomes by providing protection to the cell, gene and enzymes. Address Corresponding to this Author at the Dept. of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi-62, India; Tel: +91-9818462060; E-mail:
[email protected] 1872-2083/12 $100.00+.00
Based on this, currently new era of novel nanotechnology based carriers like liposome, modified positively charged liposome, inorganic nanoparticles, carbon nano-tube and Quantum dot etc. were successfully adopted as main or adjuvant technologies in genetic transformation. Numerous reports published in recent times are indicative of significant contributions of these novel technologies in gene transfer to the plant tissues and their culture techniques. In this review, we are discussing in detail about the liposomes and nanoparticles as novel nanotechnology based biotransformation systems for gene delivery in plants. Moreover, we will also describe in brief about commonly used gene transfer approaches and their limitations. Additionally, we will try to postulate innovative ideas on the footprints of established nanotechnology and chemical based strategy for improved efficiency, reproducibility and accuracy of biotransformation. CONVENTIONAL BIOTRANSFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES IN PLANTS Plant biotransformation vectors and methodologies have been improved with the time to increase the effectiveness of biotransformation and achieve stable expression of transgenes. Currently available biotransformation methods can be divided into two main groups: indirect and direct biotransformation method. The indirect method is based on the introduction of a plasmid-carrying gene construct into the target cell [15, 16]. The most commonly applied indirect method is Agrobacterium tumefaciens or Agrobacterium rhizogenes based gene transfer in which the unique natural ability of Agrobacterium is utilized to precisely transfer specific DNA sequences to cells [17-27]. Important events of T-DNA transfer and components involved in the Agrobacterium mediated gene transfer are outlined in Fig. (1). Agrobacterium-based DNA transformation offers many unique advantages: (1) precise integration of DNA sequences with © 2012 Bentham Science Publishers
70 Recent Patents on Biotechnology 2012, Vol. 6, No. 1
Ohadi et al.
Fig. (1). Diagrammatic presentation of Agrobacterium mediated gene transfer in higher plants.
defined end, (2) transfer of desired DNA along with the marker gene, (3) high frequency of stable and intact gene transfer, (4) low rate of transgene silencing, and (5) the ability to transfer long stretches of T-DNA (> 150 kb) [20]. Although, Agrobacterium mediated gene transfer is a commonly used technique with uniqueness, but it has several drawbacks [18, 20, 22-25]. These include: a)
limitation to carry limited size base pair (
