Figure 5.

Effect of DEX-PEG-coated CNT on mitochondrial membrane disruption in TNF-α-stimulated FLS.

Notes: (A, B) JC-1 staining showed depolarized mitochondria (green, J-monomer) and polarized mitochondria (red, J-aggregate) membrane potentials after 24 h. H₂O₂ (50 μM) was used as a positive control. Scale bar: 20 μm. PEG-coated CNT (1 μg/mL) showed no significant changes in the greater level of mitochondrial membrane disruption (green). DEX-PEG-coated CNT inhibited mitochondrial membrane disruption at low doses (0.25 μg/mL) compared to DEX (1 μg/mL) in TNF-α-stimulated FLS. All data represent mean ± SEM (n=6). ***P<0.001 compared to the DEX group.

Abbreviations: CNT, carbon nanotube; DEX, dexamethasone; FLS, fibroblast-like synoviocytes; H₂O₂, hydrogen peroxide; PEG, polyethylene-glycol; SEM, standard error of the mean; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-α.