A Breakthrough for Crop Genetic Engineering
In a major leap for plant biotechnology, scientists have revolutionized the classic gene gun with a Flow Guiding Barrel (FGB)—dramatically improving biolistic plant transformation and CRISPR genome editing across a range of crops.
The new device, designed through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and manufactured via 3D printing, resolves longstanding inefficiencies in delivering genetic material using particle bombardment—a core method in plant transformation.
“Our flow-guiding barrel design delivers up to 30 times more efficient genetic transformation than the conventional system,” said lead author Dr. Shan Jiang of Iowa State University.
Key Highlights of the Study
- 22x improvement in gene expression using GFP-DNA in onion epidermis
- 4.5x increase in CRISPR-Cas9 RNP editing efficiency
- 100% infection rate for virus delivery in soybean and corn
- 11.3% stable transformation rate in maize (vs. 0.33% previously)
- 2x genome editing efficiency in wheat using CRISPR-Cas12a in both T0 and T1 generations
Why This Matters
The biolistic gene gun, first developed in the 1980s, has been a cornerstone for transforming plants that resist Agrobacterium-mediated methods. However, the lack of technological upgrades in the past 30 years has limited its efficiency and consistency.
The Flow Guiding Barrel (FGB) addresses this by:
- Generating laminar particle flow instead of chaotic diffusion
- Increasing target coverage area 4-fold
- Delivering high-velocity microprojectiles with more precision
- Reducing transgene copy number, improving genomic stability
Implications for CRISPR & DNA-Free Editing
The FGB proves especially powerful in DNA-free genome editing, enabling precise CRISPR-RNP delivery into crops like wheat and maize. This circumvents regulatory hurdles associated with transgenic organisms, making it a preferred tool for next-generation gene editing.
“With the FGB, we’re not just improving gene delivery—we’re shaping the future of sustainable agriculture,” said co-author Dr. Yiping Qi from the University of Maryland.
Engineering Meets Biology
This innovation bridges mechanical engineering and biotechnology, leveraging SolidWorks CAD modeling, COMSOL fluid simulations, and FDM 3D printing to redesign the internal flow dynamics of a decades-old device.
The team’s modular design also allows for rapid prototyping, customization for different plant species, and deployment in field-ready settings.
What’s Next?
The FGB could soon become a standard in:
- High-throughput transgenic crop development
- Precision genome editing using CRISPR-Cas systems
- Rapid gene function studies via virus-mediated delivery
- Scaling in commercial plant biotech pipelines
Reference
Thorpe, C., Luo, W., Ji, Q., Eggenberger, A. L., Chicowski, A. S., Xu, W., … & Jiang, S. (2025). Enhancing biolistic plant transformation and genome editing with a flow guiding barrel. Nature Communications, 16(1), 5624. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60761-x
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