Protein-coated nanoparticles for non-GM delivery of nucleic acids in plants

The delivery of functional nucleic acids into intact plant tissues remains one of the most significant technical challenges in plant biotechnology. Conventional transformation methods such as Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer, biolistic bombardment, and viral vectors are often limited by host specificity, low efficiency, and the potential for genomic fragmentation or epigenetic instability. These approaches typically require tissue culture and regeneration, which are labour-intensive and can introduce somaclonal variation. Moreover, the increasing demand for non-GM and chemical-free plant breeding solutions has intensified the need for alternative delivery platforms that are both biologically effective and publicly acceptable. In this context, nanoparticle-mediated delivery offers a promising route for transient gene expression, RNA interference, and genome editing without the integration of foreign DNA. However, the rigid plant cell wall presents a barrier to nanoparticle uptake, and most existing nanocarriers lack the ability to actively engage with plant endocytosis and membrane trafficking pathways.