Carbon Dots Enable Efficient Delivery of Functional DNA in Plants.

Genetic engineering is an important technology in plant sciences. The current delivery techniques, such as Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer and gene gun instant gene expression system, always need a very complicated process or have host-range limitations due to the inhibition of the cell wall structure. Here, we demonstrate that a nanocomposite (CDP) prepared by combining polyethyleneimine (PEI) with carbon dot (CD) was confirmed as a good vector for gene transfection in both animal and plant cells, especially in intact plants. Efficient DNA delivery and strong gene expression without DNA integration are accomplished in rice ( Oryza Sativa japonica ), wheat ( Triticum aestivum ), and mung bean ( Phaseolus radiatus ) leaves and rice roots. Notably, the CDP successfully deliver the hydamycin resistance gene into the rice and induce hygromycin resistance in rice. Also, CDP can achieve the β-glucuronidase gene delivery and expression in mature rice embryo induced callus. The CDP not only facilitates plasmid transport into cells but also protects DNA from DNase degradation. Our work provides a highly efficient DNA delivery system for instant gene expression, which could be a useful and fast gene engineering tool for functional research in plant biology.