Fig 1. Effect of transfection on proliferation of primary human immune cells w/o iron oxide nanoparticles (-); with particles (+).

PBMCs or non-adherent PBMCs (naPBMCs) were transfected with FAM-labeled nonsense AON (2’O-methyl-PTO-RNA) (A, C) or Alexa488 labeled nonsense siRNA (B, D) with or without magnetic iron oxide nanoparticle transfection enhancement (dark gray = without, light gray = with particles) by applying PEI (+/- FluidMag) and Ibafect (+/- MA Enhancer). Controls were untransfected cells (black bar). Cells were washed and stimulated with PHA (0.05 mg/ml) 24h post transfection. Proliferation was measured by LTT. Briefly, incorporation of ³H thymidine (20 μCi/ml) was measured 16-18h post stimulation as cell count per minute (CCPM) and data is shown as mean ± SE (N_{PBMC donor} = 4). Also shown are cell viabilities measured by Trypan blue staining (E) and uptake rates measured by flow cytometry (F) 24h after transfection as mean ± SD. Significance levels were calculated by Student´s T test, * p < 0.05 between transfected groups, # p < 0.05 compared to respective control.