Figure 1. Basal uptake of geometrically defined nanoparticles.

Relative uptake of 75 μg/mL of nanoparticles at specified time points assessed via FACS. In 1a, macrophages exhibit significant uptake. However, both the phenotype of the macrophage and the geometry (at this time point, 1.5 hours) appear to play important roles in the degree of uptake. It is also important to note that alveolar macrophages treated with spherical nanoparticles when compared to worm like nanoparticles appear to have a greater degree of nanoparticle uptake, at this time point). This suggests a phenotypic and geometric implication. 1b. Epithelial cells exhibit little to no nanoparticle uptake when compared to control. 1c and 1d: Relative uptake of 75 μg/mL of nanoparticles at specified time points assessed via FACS. As shown, initial time point analysis shows a variation in the uptake rate of nanoparticles, dependent upon geometry while later time points appear to have an equivalent rate of cellular association (for clarity some time points have been removed, please see Supplemental Figure 5 for all time points). 1e: Representative graph of the relative uptake of spherical nanoparticles as a function of temperature in model cells. Alveolar macrophages are depicted by their increased uptake potential. The graph provides confirmation of energy dependent mechanisms of uptake. Please note: graphs are represented as percentage of control or the background provided by FACS analysis of cells incubated without nanoparticles; so 100% would be 100% of control. Low levels of autofluorescence were indicated for immortalized lines, while high levels were indicated for primary cells due to donor variations including unknown patient treatment (i.e. chemotherapeutics, smoker or non-smoker, other diseases/treatments, etc.) *Indicates statistical significance p value < 0.05