Fig. 3.

The uptake efficiencies and internalization mechanism exploration of ssDNA in HEK-293T cell. a CLSM was applied to observe the subcellular localization and intracellular intensity of Cy5-labeled ssDNA aptamers (156.25 nM) in HEK-293T cells at different treatment time points. Scale bars, 10 μm. b Mean fluorescence intensities (MFIs) of Cy5-labeled aptamers in HEK-293T cells related to (a). c The uptake efficiencies of Cy5-labeled aptamers (150 nM) at different treatment time points were evaluated by flow cytometry. d MFIs recorded in (c). e The subcellular localization and intracellular intensity of Cy5-labeled aptamers in HEK-293T cells was observed at different concentrations after 5 h of treatment via CLSM, scale bars, 10 μm. f Quantitative analysis of (e). g The uptake efficiencies of Cy5-labeled aptamers at different concentrations after 5 h treatment was evaluated by flow cytometry. h Quantitative analysis of (g, i) Some specific endocytosis inhibitors were applied to explore the internalization mechanism of Cy5-labeled aptamers (150 nM). j Relative MFI and cell uptake rate of Cy5-labeled aptamers recorded in (i), n = 3 per group, all data are shown as the mean ± SEM, Statistical analyses were done using the univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) with SPSS 21.0 statistical software. Where “**” represents P < 0.01, “****” represents P < 0.0001. vs the W/O group