Figure 1.

Electrophoresis images of free siRNA and QDs.

Notes: Unbound negatively charged siRNA (lane 1) and free positively charged QDs (lane 2) migrated towards the anode and cathode, respectively. The quantity of siRNA remaining at the slot (QD–siRNA nanoplex, lanes 3–5) indicates effective binding of siRNA to QDs. We can see that the optimal QD/siRNA correlative effect occurred in lane 3: the QD–siRNA^FAM nanoplex (50 pmol:100 pmol).

Abbreviations: siRNA, short interfering RNA; QDs, quantum dots; siRNA^FAM, siRNA with fluorescein amidite.