Figure 2.

The effect on body weight of SiO₂ NPs fed to mice.

Notes: C57BL/6 mice were treated with varying sizes (20 nm, 100 nm) and charges (SiO₂^EN[R]; negative, SiO₂^EN[−]) of 750 mg/kg colloidal SiO₂ NPs for 14 days. Body weight was measured all throughout the experiment period, and it served as one of the primary indicators of SiO₂ NP immune toxicity. Data are presented as the mean ± standard deviation; n=5.

Abbreviations: NC, normal control; SiO₂^EN(−), negatively charged silicon dioxide; SiO₂^EN(R), silicon dioxide modified with L-arginine; SiO₂, silicon dioxide; NP, nanoparticle; n, number.