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. 2009 Jun 8;119(7):2086–2099. doi: 10.1172/JCI34332

Figure 1. Size analysis and DNase protection of plasmids encapsulated by dispersion atomization.

Figure 1

(A) Schematic of the s50 capsule showing the overall structure and composition. The percentage of each constituent in the final formulated nanocapsule is indicated in parentheses. PEI, 25-kDa polyethylenimine. (B–E) Atomic force micrographs of HA-encapsulated pSV40:Alb-lacZ (B); ASOR-encapsulated pSV40:Ear-lacZ (C); ASOR-encapsulated cis SB-Tn/CAGGS-BΔcFVIII (D); and HA-encapsulated cis SB-Tn/CAGGS-BΔcFVIII (E) prepared as described in Methods. The size of the ASOR (C and D) and HA (B and E) nanocapsules with plasmids was determined by AFM image analysis using data collected in the tapping mode. Scale bar: 100 nm. Transmission electron micrographs of negatively stained ASOR-encapsulated pSV40:Ear-lacZ (F) and HA-encapsulated pSV40:Alb-lacZ (G). Scale bar: 50 nm. (H) DNase resistance of plasmid DNA in ASOR or HA nanocapsules. Plasmid DNA (1 μg) with or without encapsulation was subjected to DNase treatment and the DNA recovered as outlined in Methods. A 0.5-μg aliquot of DNA was separated on a 0.7% agarose gel and the plasmids visualized by ethidium bromide staining and UV light. Lane 1, pSV40:Ear-lacZ untreated; lane 2, pSV40:Alb-lacZ untreated; lane 3, pSV40:Ear-lacZ; lane 4, pSV40:Alb-lacZ; lane 5, pSV40:Ear-lacZ in ASOR nanocapsules; and lane 6, pSV40:Alb-lacZ in HA nanocapsules; lanes 3–6, treated. M, 1-kb ladder (Invitrogen).