Figure 6:

Scheme showing NP modifications to enhance endosomal escape, modified with permission from (Donahue et al., 2019). a) Endosomal membrane-disrupting modifications on the NP can form openings by which the NP can 1) escape with its RNA cargo or 2) promote NP fusion to the endosomal membrane and release RNA directly into the cytoplasm. b) pH-sensitive modifications. The acidic environment in endosomes weakens the bonds that bind the NPs to the RNA cargo, thus allowing the RNA to escape the endosome