A study of low-energy ion beam effects on outer plant cell structure for exogenous macromolecule transferring

The aim of this study was to investigate low-energy ion beam effects on ind ucing exogenous macromolecule transfer through cell walls into cells and th e related dependence. The experiment focused on 20-30 keV Ar ion implantati on in various plant tissues to doses ranging from 10(14) to 10(16) ions/cm( 2). Auxiliary 15-30 keV N ion implantation in the plant tissues as well as 25 keV Ar ion implantation in bacteria of E. coli was also carried out. The effects of ion beam bombardment on the outer cell structure and the abilit y of transferring large exogenous molecules of Trypan blue (TB) and plasmid DNA were investigated. Typical results show that the 20 keV Ar ion implant ation only leads to retaining of the TB dye in the cell wall whereas the 30 keV Ar ion implantation can allow the dye to enter the cell. A discussion based on simulations of the ion implantation processes indicates that the c ell wall composed of cellulose microfibrils is in a porous structure so tha t ions at certain low energies with appropriate doses can increase permeabi lity of the cell wall and induce exogenous macromolecule transferring. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.