Fig. 12.

Ligand-functionalized AuNPs mediate efficient dsDNA delivery to cells through ligand structure-dependent entry mechanisms. B16-F0 melanoma cells were incubated for 4 h in serum-free medium with free Cy5-labeled dsDNA or Cy5-DNA-functionalized AuNPs. a Flow cytometry histograms demonstrating uptake of DNA and cell viability [4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI)] under normal cell culture conditions. b Relative frequency of dsDNA⁺ cells (normalized to frequency of cells taking up free dsDNA under endocytic conditions), assessed by flow cytometry in presence (white bars) or absence (grey bars) of endocytosis (*p < 0.05; **p < 0.01). c Confocal laser scanning microscopy analysis of AuNP-mediated delivery of fluorescent DNA (red channel) to B16-F0 melanoma cells expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP, green channel) as a cytosolic/nuclear marker. [Reprinted with permission from (Jewell et al. 2011). Copyright (2011) Wiley]