Biotechnology Applications of Nanocarbons in Plant and Algal Systems

The unique combination of structural, optical, and electronic properties of nanocarbons (NCs) has made these materials particularly attractive for various applications in biotechnology and biomedicine, ranging from sensing, gene-delivery, bioimaging and therapeutics. When appropriately functionalized, NCs can overcome the cellular barriers of living organisms and localize within specific sub-cellular compartments, where they can then carry out different functions to sense, enhance, or complement natural cell function. Recent areas of research have focused on the targeted integration of engineered NCs into living photosynthetic organisms. The synergistic combination of NCs with plants and algae has the potential to impart photosynthetic organisms with improved capabilities, expanding their use for novel agricultural or electronic applications. This chapter will discuss the important milestones reached over the course of research into NC interactions with photosynthetic systems, highlighting the major applications in the field.