Carbon nanotubes as molecular transporters for walled plant cells.

Liu, Qiaoling; Chen, Bo; Wang, Qinli; Shi, Xiaoli; Xiao, Zeyu; Lin, Jinxin; Fang, Xiaohong · Nano Lett · 2009

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

We have investigated the capability of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) to penetrate the cell wall and cell membrane of intact plant cells. Confocal fluorescence images revealed the cellular uptake of both SWNT/fluorescein isothiocyanate and SWNT/DNA conjugates, demonstrating that SWNTs also hold great promise as nanotransporters for walled plant cells. Moreover, the result suggested that SWNTs could deliver different cargoes into different plant cell organelles.

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