Drug loading and release, and macrophage interaction for DEX-SPNs. A. Dexamethasone encapsulation and loading efficiency in DEX-SPNs. B. Dexamethasone release kinetics from DEX-SPNs, at 37 °C in PBS (pH 7.4). C. Confocal microscopy analysis of Cy5-SPN internalization in RAW 264.7 cells. (Scale bar: 25 μm) D. Relative inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) gene expression from RAW 264.7 cells following incubation with media (LPS+/-), Free DEX, Empty SPNs, and DEX-SPNs, respectively. Results are presented as mean ± SD (n=6). ([TNF-a: #, p<0.001, 6h, DEX SPNs vs LPS+, Free DEX, Empty SPNs; *, p<0.001, 24h, DEX SPNs vs LPS+, Free DEX, Empty SPNs], [IL-1b: #, p<0.001, 6h, DEX SPNs vs LPS+, Empty SPNs; *, p<0.001, 24h, DEX SPNs vs LPS+, Free DEX, Empty SPNs], [IL-6: #, p<0.001, 6h, DEX SPNs vs LPS+, Empty SPNs; *, p<0.001, 24h, DEX SPNs vs LPS+, Free DEX, Empty SPNs])