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. 2015 Feb 23;10(2):e0118310. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0118310

Fig 1. Design, biochemical characterization, and gene silencing activity of I4R-9r PwSN.

Fig 1

(A) Schematic representation of the Peptide-Woven SiRNA Nanocomplex (PwSN), with siRNA noncovalently bound to I4R-9r tandem peptides composed of a tumor targeting peptide (I4R, green) and Cell penetrating peptide (9R, blue) separated by a 2-glycine spacer. (B) siRNA encapsulation by I4R-9r tandem peptides was monitored by gel retardation assay with molar ratios of 1:5 to 1:50 (siRNA-to-peptide). (C) Representative confocal microscopy images of HeLa cells treated with siRNA-FITC carried I4R-9r PwSN vs. free siRNA-FITC. (D) Representative histograms from flow cytometry for cellular uptake of I4R-9r PwSN (blue), 9r PwSN (grey), and free siRNA (black). (E) Representative histograms from flow cytometry for cellular uptake of I4R-9r PwSN (blue) vs. free siRNA (black) in the presence of indicated concentrations of anti-IL4R antibody or an IgG control. (F) HeLa cells were transfected with nanocomplexes carrying siRNA against GAPDH. The GAPDH protein expression is monitored by Western blot and presented with mean of relative immunoblot intensities. Lipofectamine was used as a positive control. The error bars represent SD from cumulative data of six independent experiments.