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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2023 Sep 21.
Published in final edited form as: Bioconjug Chem. 2022 Aug 26:10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.2c00305. doi: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.2c00305

Figure 2: Loading and biodistribution of model protein in pSiNPs.

Figure 2:

(a) Analysis of pSiNP-Lysozyme-PEG-CAQK size by TEM image analysis after degradation in PBS at 37 °C after 0, 12, 24, and 48 hours (scale bar = 100 nm). (b) Time-dependent release of model protein lysozyme from pSiNPs in PBS at 37 °C, measured by BCA assay. The mass percentage loading of lysozyme in the pSiNP constructs was 14.5% by mass relative to the pSiNP-protein construct. (c) Activity of lysozyme after release from pSiNPs. Lysozyme activity was assayed through the hydrolysis of Micrococcus lysodeikticus, measured by loss of absorbance at 450 nm. (d) Schematic depiction of the protocol followed in the biodistribution study. The right hemisphere was injured, followed by intravenous administration of pSiNP-Lysozyme-PEG-CAQK 2 hours post-CCI, and brains collection for downstream imaging and analysis 2 hours post-injection. (e) Time-gated image of pSiNPs in whole brains and (f) confocal image of lysozyme model protein (red), CAQK (green), and nuclei (blue) from injured brain sections (scale bar = 200 μm).