SUMMARY. The possibility of exploiting carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-based nanocarriers to deliver genes into protoplasts, callus and mesophyll explants of plants was examined. Using single-walled CNTs (SWCNTs) at the concentration of 20 µg/ml and multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) at the concentration of 15 µg/ml genetic transformation of Nicotiana tabacum L. mesophyll protoplasts with plasmid pGreen 0029 was carried out and transient expression of reporter yfp gene in the protoplasts was observed. Using SWCNTs at the concentration of 40 µg/ml and MWCNTs at the concentration of 30 µg/ml genetic transformation of N. tabacum callus and leaf explants with nptII gene as a part of plasmid pGreen 0029 was carried out. As a result plant regeneration on selective medium containing 50 mg/l kanamycin was shown. SWCNTs-based nanocarriers demonstrated their applicability to transform protoplasts as well as walled plant cells. Whereas, MWCNTs-based nanocarriers were suitable only for transformation of protoplasts due to the limiting role of cellulose walls in cell penetration.
Keywords: genetic transformation of plants, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), functionalization, protoplasts, callus, tobacco Nicotiana tabacum L.
