Fig. 4.

Intracellular uptake and distribution of the UnTHCPSi and UnTHCPSi–HA⁺ nanoparticles. TEM images and the corresponding numerically organized magnifications of ultra-thin sections of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells exposed to UnTHCPSi and UnTHCPSi–HA⁺ at a concentration of 50 μg mL⁻¹, for 6 h at 37 °C are shown. The conjugation of HA⁺ onto the surface of the UnTHCPSi nanoparticles has been shown to significantly enhance the interaction and consequently the uptake of the nanoparticles by both MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The nanoparticles associated with the cells are highlighted by blue arrows. Scale bars are 5 μm.