Fig. 3

Functionalization of EMNs with ITGα6β4 (F-EMNs) and delivery of miRNA145. a Fluorescent Western blot showing the effective association of ITGα6β4 with EMNs (F-EMNs) by ultracentrifugation at 120,000×g (pellet) compared to the supernatant (SN). b Specific interaction of F-EMNs to coverslips coated with laminin-5. EMNs and F-EMNs were labeled with the fluorophore NBD-CH (green). Scale bars represent 100 µm. c Gel retention assay showing the free microRNA145 compared to the miR145 encapsulated in EMNs that remains stacked in the well of the gel. d Confocal microscopy images after 4 h transfection of A549 cells with EMNs + miR145 and F-EMNs + miR145. Blue channel: nuclei (DAPI); green channel: EMNs and F-EMNs (NBD-CH); red channel: miR145 (Cy5). Scale bars represent 25 µm. e FACS quantitative analysis of the transfection efficiency of F-EMNs + miR145-Cy5 compared to EMNs + miR145-Cy5, and the control cells. f Real time-qPCR of miR145 levels in A549 cells after 4 h transfection with miR145 free, a scramble sequence, EMNs + miR145 and F-EMNs + miR145. Data are representative of three independent experiments