Figure 6.

Effect of Fe₃O₄@Au nanoparticles on the expression and production of protumorigenic factors by the HPMSCs. The gene expression and secreted levels of protumorigenic markers were measured on cells exposed to 100 µg/mL Fe₃O₄@Au nanoparticles for 24 and 72 h. First, the mean expression of genes encoding (A) PI3K, (B) AMPK, (C) PDGF, and (D) VEGF were determined via the use of RT-qPCR. Then, (E) the level of VEGF secreted by HPMSCs was quantified through an ELISA. Data are expressed as the mean ± SEM of three independent experiments. *: p < 0.05 and ****: p < 0.0001 as compared to the corresponding control conditions.