Figure 2. Albumin nanoparticles are non-toxic, protect plasmid from degradation, and sustain gene delivery

A: Human serum albumin nanoparticles (HSA NP) crosslinked with 1 μl of 10% (w/v) glutaraldehyde. B: HSA NP crosslinked with 20 μl of 10% (w/v) glutaraldehyde. Particles were negatively stained with Vanadium before transmission electron microscopic (TEM) imaging. C: HSA NP sustains in vitro plasmid release. Cumulative in vitro release (%) of pSOD from HSA NP with low and high crosslinking degree is shown. Data are presented as mean±SD, n=3. D: Enhanced stability of pSOD against DNase I and vitreous humor degradation after HSA NP encapsulation. Electrophoretic mobility analysis of pSOD-encapsulated HSA NP following 30 min incubation with nuclease, protease, or bovine vitreous humor. E: Lack of cytotoxicity of HSA NP in ARPE-19 cells. Relative viability of ARPE-19 cells treated with HSA NP for up to 96 h is shown. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay after HSA NP exposure. Data are expressed as mean±SD, n=8.