Figure 2.

Uptake of nanodrug in TNF-α-stimulated FLS.

Notes: (A, B) FLS and TNF-α-stimulated FLS (2×10⁴ cells/well in 24-well plates) were treated with 0.5 μg/mL Alexa 488-labeled DEX-PEG-coated CNT for 24 h. The fluorescence was visualized using (A) confocal microscopy (×400) and (B) densitometric analysis. Scale bar: 20 μm. The results are presented as mean ± SEM (n=10). ***P<0.001, as compared with control. (C) Enhanced caveolin-mediated endocytosis (33%) of DEX-PEG-coated CNT in TNF-α-stimulated FLS was identified compared to normal FLS.

Abbreviations: CNT, carbon nanotube; DEX, dexamethasone; FLS, fibroblast-like synoviocytes; PBS, phosphate-buffered saline; PEG, polyethylene-glycol; SEM, standard error of the mean; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-α.