Genetic Transformation of Catharanthus roseus with Simplified Nanocarrier-Based Gene Delivery Method Using Green Synthesized Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles.

Abstract

Conventional methods of plant genetic engineering have achieved significant successes but are often limited by species specificity and the need for specialized equipment. Recent advancements in nanotechnology-based gene delivery, particularly the use of nanocarriers, offer promising alternatives with enhanced efficiency, improved biocompatibility, and protection of exogenous nucleic acids. We developed a novel gene delivery approach, Simplified Nanocarrier-based Genetic Transformation (SNGT), using green-synthesized superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (gSION) for efficient DNA transfer into Catharanthus roseus leaf cells. Unlike previous green-synthesized nanoparticles primarily applied in biomedical contexts, this study explores their application in plant genetic engineering for the first time. We successfully synthesized gSION using aqueous extracts of C. roseus leaves. Following synthesis and physicochemical characterization, gSION-based nanocarriers loaded with the mGFP5-ER-encoding plasmid were prepared. Using this nanocarrier system, C. roseus leaves were successfully transformed. This method demonstrated effective gene delivery and transient gene expression in plant tissue.