Fig. 3.

Gene knockdown in vitro and in vivo cytotoxicity of fusogenic porous Si nanoparticle constructs. a siRNA knockdown results (via qRT-PCR) from Raw 264.7 macrophage cells incubated with nanoparticles for 24 h. Error bars indicate SD (n = 6). The fusogenic formulations show substantial knockdown, comparable to standard lipofectamine transfection agent. No significant difference in knockdown efficiency is observed between the two fusogenic formulations (F-siIRF5-mPEG, F-siIRF5-CRV) and lipofectamine. *Significant difference (one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s HSD post hoc test, p-level < 0.05, F (5, 30) = 28, p = 6.9 × 10⁻¹⁰). b Viability of J774a.1 and Raw 264.7 macrophage cells after 1 h incubation with NF-siIRF5-CRV and F-siIRF5-CRV nanoparticle constructs, containing 0.5 and 1 mg total mass of lipid as indicated. Error bar indicates SD (n = 6). ANOVA test found no statistical significance at p < 0.01; c–h H&E staining of major organs after 24 h circulation of F-siIRF5-CRV via tail vein injection (23.2 µmol/kg lipid, 24 µg/kg siRNA, 0.5 mg/kg pSi) in healthy Balb/C mice; c brain; d heart; e lung; f liver; g kidney; and h spleen