Figure 1.

The partition coefficients (n=3) of everolimus (10 µM, blue), paclitaxel (10 nM, red) and sirolimus (10 µM, green) decrease with increasing cholesterol content (defined as the sum of free and esterified cholesterol, n=3). These data were obtained from a single 3mm thick human aorta sample that was separated into its three tunica layers. Each layer was then cut into 12 square segments (4mm×4mm); 3 for cholesterol quantification and 9 for drug quantification.