Novel system for adapting crop plants to the changing environment

我们相信，基因负载的碳纳米点（CNDs）将彻底改变农业实践，因为它们具有高度适应性、多用途并且可以与现有机械一起使用。CNDs是一项有效的技术，可用于应对气候变化、抗虫害和帮助减少对农用化学品的需求，因为它们可用于利用遗传物质使植物适应特定条件。我们的技术通过减少食物浪费、提高产量和有针对性地防治病虫害，提供了巨大的商业机会。CNDs可能有助于解决全球粮食安全问题，因为它具有生物相容性、成本效益高、易于使用，可以替代市场上现有的产品。CNDs是基于一类新的糖基纳米材料，它能够与遗传物质相互作用。CNDs很容易与各种遗传物质结合，形成一种水溶性的“紧凑的”遗传负载纳米材料，它可以通过几种途径进入植物，从叶面喷雾到土壤浇水。这是第一批能够将这些遗传物质运送到植物细胞中的技术之一，与目前的方法不同，它不会对植物造成损害。此外，虽然这些物质会影响单个植物，但它们不会传递给后代，这为植物以一种非常特殊的方式适应不断变化的环境提供了一种方法。这种方法也比其他方法快得多，劳动强度也低得多，而且成本效益极高。

We believe that gene-loaded-carbon nanodots (CNDs) will revolutionise agricultural practices, as they are highly adaptable, versatile and can be used with existing machinery. CNDs are an effective technology to combat climate change, pest resistance and assist in reducing the need for agrochemicals, as they can be used to adapt plants to specific conditions using genetic material. Our technology offers huge commercial opportunities by reducing food waste, increasing yields and having a targeted effect to tackle pests and diseases. CNDs may help to resolve food security issues worldwide by presenting a biocompatible, cost-effective, easy to use alternative to current products on the market.CNDs are based on a new class of sugar-based nanomaterial which is capable of interacting with genetic material. CNDs bond easily to various genetic materials, creating a water soluble "compact" genetic-loaded nanomaterial which can enter plants via several routes, from foliar sprays to watering on to soil. This is one of the first technologies which can transport these genetic materials into plant cells and, unlike current methods, does not cause damage to the plant. Furthermore, while these materials would affect the individual plant, they would not be passed on to its offspring, providing a way to adapt plants to their changing conditions in a very specific manner. This method is also far faster and less labour intensive than others, as well as being extremely cost-effective.