Figure 8.

siRNA loading. A) and C) Cryo-EM images of cubosomes having A) siRNA and C) siRNA–gold nanoparticles conjugates. siRNA–gold nanoparticles conjugates provide much higher contrast to locate siRNA molecules within the cubosomes. B) and D) 2D electron density maps of selected boxes (70 × 70 nm) shown in A) and C) (red for low and blue for high electron density). B) The well-ordered lipid membrane (green colour) is forming a square lattice aligned in the [100] direction. The red colour in the map represents less electron dense regions, the water channels. On the other hand, D) shows additional blue and purple regions (high electron density) corresponding to gold nanoparticles locations and hence the approximate siRNA location. This is a direct proof of siRNA incorporation into a cubosome. Schematics of cuboplexes are also shown in the middle of the figure. Reprinted with permission from [19]. Copyright 2018 American Chemical Society.