Our Technology
Careful modification of carbon nanodots (CDs) has allowed us to create a cheap, benign, environmentally friendly mechanism for temporary gene expression in a wide range of agricultural plants. Through this, we can unlock the ability to transform many crops' biological characteristics in a customisable and reversible manner.
This special particle occurs naturally, and is found in everything from forest fire residue to your instant coffee grounds. The carbon dot is a nano-sphere that stands out for its exceptional strength in a number of useful areas:
​​
-
Highly soluble in water
-
High chemical inertness
-
Resistant to photobleaching
-
Non-toxic
-
Completely biodegradable
-
Fluorescent
-
Abundant
​
Delivered as a result of its distinct structure, this highly adaptable nanoparticle will allow us to develop a new suite of innovative gene expression products for a wide range of applications.
Carbon nanodots (CDs)
Stealth mechanism
Our CDs are non-destructively taken up by the plant through a variety of routes, including via the roots, via the foliage when applied as a spray, or via the seed coat after a simple dipping of the seed.
​
Even when combined with nucleic acids to form a 'nanoplex', we find our carbon dot structures to be effectively taken up and transported throughout plant tissue without the need for physical disruption to the cell walls.
​
Overcoming previous limitations
Agrobacterial methods are difficult to target at the level of the individual plant or specific area (such as root), while biolistics and microinjections result in damage to plant cells, reducing efficiency and introducing other risks to the development of the crop. Carbon dots circumvent all of these stumbling blocks.
Plant transformation and transient trait expression
The present CD nanoplex system is also capable of delivering genetic payloads to nuclei through both the seed soak and foliar spray method, resulting in effective gene expression across various plants and life stages.
​
The genes inserted into crop plants and the resulting expression of traits is transient; it cannot be inherited by the offspring of the plant. The effects of the treatment will therefore only persist in crops for the duration of its application, removing the risks commonly associated with heritable genetic modification and giving users unprecedented flexibility.