Ye Li, Yezhuo Zhang, Zhun Zhang, Xi Zhang, Hongyang Wu, Man Zhang, Zhuo Li, Yinglang Wan, Yujie Fu, Wei Dong, Ruili Li, Jinxing Lin
Systematically summarize the translocation mechanism of nanomaterials within plant systems and how the size, shape, stiffness, and surface properties of nanomaterials affect their internalization in plants, discussing types of cargoes and transformation strategies employed in nanomaterial-mediated delivery. Nanomaterials are frequently utilized as vectors for the targeted delivery of biomolecules such as DNA, RNA, proteins, and protein-nucleic acid complexes in mammalian cells, showing significant potential in medical applications, but their use in plants remains limited. Nanomaterial-based plant delivery systems have key challenges and emerging opportunities that restrict their application in plant systems and require critical insights for advancing biomolecule delivery technologies in plant biotechnology.
Engineered nanomaterials are frequently utilized as vectors for the targeted delivery of biomolecules such as DNA, RNA, proteins, and protein-nucleic acid complexes in mammalian cells, showing significant potential in medical applications. However, their use in plants remains limited. Little is known about the mechanisms of nanomaterial transport in plant cells and how their properties influence their internalization ability, which restricts their application in plant systems. In this review, we systematically summarize the translocation mechanism of nanomaterials within plant systems, and highlight how the size, shape, stiffness, and surface properties of nanomaterials affect their internalization in plants. Moreover, we discuss the types of cargoes and the transformation strategies employed in nanomaterial-mediated delivery. Finally, we highlight the key challenges and emerging opportunities associated with nanomaterial-based plant delivery systems, aiming to provide critical insights for advancing biomolecule delivery technologies in plant biotechnology.