Carrier Gas Triggered Biolistic Delivery of Genetic Material with ZIF-8

Biolistic transfection—physically shooting DNA loaded onto a metal nanoparticle into a cell— is an established method for introducing genetic material into cells that are otherwise difficult to transfect using traditional methods. Commercial gene guns and the gold or tungsten microparticle “bullets” that carry the DNA into the cells are expensive and there are concerns about their cytotoxicity, biopersistence, and potential for DNA degradation with the genetic material placed on the microparticle surface. We have developed an approach that biomimetically encapsulated DNA in Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 (ZIF-8) as an efficient, low cost, and stable gene carrier that can be used with a low-cost gas powered “MOF-Gun” for direct delivery into plant tissue. ZIF-8 is more economical, biodegradable, and affords protection to the DNA against degradation compared to metal nanoparticles. By using CO₂ as a reactive carrier gas, we can cause a rapid local pH drop and fast release of the DNA.