Sprayable Cell Penetrating Peptide Complexes for Plant Nucleic Acid Delivery

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for delivering nucleic acids into plant cells, such as biolistics and Agrobacterium-mediated delivery, face limitations including low success rates, cell damage, and genotype-dependent efficiency, and are not suitable for high-throughput or large-scale applications, particularly due to the complexity of compositions and potential negative effects of additives like chelators and surfactants on stability and activity.

Innovation Solution

The use of Cell Penetrating Peptides (CPPs) complexed with nucleic acids, applied via spraying, which allows efficient uptake by plant cells without tissue damage, simplifying compositions and enabling large-scale or field applications by dissolving the nucleic acid-CPP complex in water or salt/buffer solutions, and potentially targeting specific organelles like chloroplasts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If biolistics is used for nucleic acid delivery into plant cells, then delivery can be achieved, but success rate is low and cell damage occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery success rateVSAvoidcell damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses Agrobacterium tumefaciens as a biological intermediary vector to deliver nucleic acids into plant cells. The Agrobacterium naturally transfers DNA (T-DNA) from its Ti plasmid into the plant genome, providing a gentle and efficient delivery mechanism that avoids the mechanical damage caused by biolistics while achieving high transformation success rates

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical biolistics method (physical bombardment of particles into cells) with a biological delivery system using Agrobacterium. This substitution eliminates the need for high-velocity mechanical impact, thereby preventing cell damage while maintaining effective nucleic acid delivery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If Agrobacterium-mediated delivery is used, then delivery efficiency is high, but success is genotype-dependent

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery efficiencyVSAvoidgenotype independence

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies various parameters of the Agrobacterium delivery system including using different strains (e.g., LBA4404, GV3101, EHA105), optimizing cultural conditions, adjusting pH and temperature parameters, and employing different selection markers to enhance delivery efficiency across diverse plant genotypes and reduce genotype-dependent variability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent develops a universal Agrobacterium-mediated delivery protocol that can be applied across multiple plant species and genotypes by optimizing the delivery system to accommodate variations in plant cell wall composition, membrane permeability, and genetic background, making the method broadly applicable rather than genotype-specific

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If conventional delivery methods are used, then nucleic acid delivery can be achieved, but compositions are complex and additives interfere with cargo stability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery functionalityVSAvoidcomposition complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary complex additives (such as excessive chelators, surfactants, and stabilizing agents) from the delivery composition, retaining only the essential components needed for successful nucleic acid delivery. This simplification reduces interference with cargo stability while maintaining delivery functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the local chemical environment at the delivery interface by using minimal, targeted components in the composition rather than complex mixtures. The simplified formulation creates a favorable local condition for nucleic acid stability and uptake without the interfering effects of multiple additives

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method facilitates efficient and non-invasive delivery of nucleic acids into plant cells, enhancing genome editing, mutagenesis, and gene regulation, with potential for broad applications in crop improvement, including stress tolerance and agronomic traits, while minimizing the need for additives that can interfere with the cargo's stability or activity.

Implementation Method 1

Cell Penetrating Peptides (CPPs) complexed with nucleic acids, applied via spraying, which allows efficient uptake by plant cells

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCell membrane penetration:

Data Source

PatentUS20230323373A1Sprayable cell-penetrating peptides for substance delivery in plants

Publication Date: 2023.10.12 BASF PLANT SCI GMBH

AI summary

The invention relates to a complex comprising a Cell Penetrating Peptide and one or more nucleic acids which can be applied to a plant by spraying and which can trigger a physiological outcome. Hereto, the one or more nucleic acids complex with a Cell Penetrating Peptide can be dissolved in water without the presence of additional components in the solution.