Magnetic Virus-like Nanoparticles in N. benthamiana Plants: A New Paradigm for Environmental and Agronomic Biotechnological Research

Abstract

This article demonstrates the encapsulation of cubic iron oxide NPs by Brome mosaic virus capsid shells and the formation, for the first time, of virus-based nanoparticles (VNPs) with cubic cores. Cubic iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) functionalized with phospholipids containing poly(ethylene glycol) tails and terminal carboxyl groups exhibited exceptional relaxivity in magnetic resonance imaging experiments, which opens the way for in vivo MRI studies of systemic virus movement in plants. Preliminary data on cell-to-cell and long-distance transit behavior of cubic iron oxide NPs and VNPs in N. benthamiana leaves indicate that VNPs have specific transit properties, i.e., penetration into tissue and long-distance transfer through the vasculature in N. Benthamiana plants, even at low temperature (6° C), while NPs devoid of virus protein coats exhibit limited transport by comparison. These particles potentially open new opportunities for the high contrast functional imaging in plants and for the delivery of therapeutic anti-microbial cores into plants.

Plant nanobionics approach to augment photosynthesis and biochemical sensing

“…Leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana were infiltrated with 100 µl of ss(AT) 15 -SWNTs as in ref. 42. Whole-leaf near-infrared imaging was performed on a CRi Maestro (PerkinElmer).…”

Barriers, pathways and processes for uptake, translocation and accumulation of nanomaterials in plants – Critical review

“…NPs from the soil or growth medium, ferritins, CaCO 3 , SiO 2 -nH 2 O phytoliths or NP synthesis byproducts; Bauer et al, 2011;Brandenberger et al, 2010;Fahn, 1982;Mueller, 2011;Petersen et al, 2014;Richmond & Sussman, 2003;Wu et al, 2013). Transmission electron microscopy staining agents and buffers can produce similar artifacts, especially osmium tetroxide, cacodylate, lead citrate, uranyl acetate and ferri-or ferrocyanide (Ayache et al, 2010;Huang et al, 2011;Rivlin & Raymond, 1987). All these agents are prone to form electron dense precipitates of shapes and sizes similar to the investigated NPs.…”

Viruslike Nanoparticles with Maghemite Cores Allow for Enhanced MRI Contrast Agents

“…29,30,34 BMV shells can also form on cores that far exceed the size of BMV inner cavity. 33,34 The VNP structure in this case, although potentially approximating locally that of larger icosahedral capsids, is likely misshapen and defect ridden. 53,54 In contrast, 12 nm gold NPs formed well-defined VNPs, capable of cocrystallizing with native BMV, suggesting VNP shells that are nearly identical in structure with the wild-type virus.…”

“…33,34 It was shown that the FeO/Fe 3 O 4 NPs are a promising T 2 MRI contrast agent and could be potentially useful as a way to track systemic movement of VNPs in plants. However, steric effects in PEGylated phospholipids preclude reaching sufficient charge densities on the surface of the small NPs, and encapsulation by this method is limited to significantly larger cores than the inner diameter of the virus, which may impact native interactions and thus function.…”

“…However, steric effects in PEGylated phospholipids preclude reaching sufficient charge densities on the surface of the small NPs, and encapsulation by this method is limited to significantly larger cores than the inner diameter of the virus, which may impact native interactions and thus function. 33,34 To overcome these limitations, in this work, we have developed a novel method, which is not limited in the size of the cores, and thus smaller, maghemite (γ-Fe 2 O 3 ) NP cores, commensurate with the virus inner cavity, could be utilized. Maghemite NP cores have a large T 2 MRI response and, as it will be shown here, produce VNPs that maintain the native capsid structure.…”