Inhibition of Xenograft Tumor Growth by Gold Nanoparticle-DNA Oligonucleotide Conjugates-Assisted Delivery of BAX mRNA
Figure 4
Retardation of tumor growth by delivery of AuNP-conjugated BAX mRNA.
(A) The volume (mm3) of the tumor ((length × width2 × π)/6) was determined over a five-week period after xenograft implantation followed by injection of 5 nM AuNP-αRNA I-5’BAX mRNA in mice. AuNP-αRNA I-5’BAX-null mRNA and liposome-5'BAX mRNA were used as controls. Data (n = 8) are presented as the mean ± SEM, and asterisks indicate statistically significant values as compared to the corresponding controls (*P < 0.05). (B) Tumor weight was measured at the time of sacrifice (30 days after implantation) and is presented as the % of control. (C) Actual sizes of representative tumors are shown. (D) Effective delivery of Cy3-labeled 5′BAX mRNA by AuNP-DNA conjugates into tumor tissue. Green signals indicate Cy3-5’BAX mRNA. Bar indicates 200 µm. (E) Western blot analysis of the tissue lysates was performed using anti-BAX, anti-Caspase 3, and anti-β-actin antibodies.