Figure 1.

Experimental protocol. SH-SY5Y cells were expanded in growth media for 3 days. On day-1, 4, 3 × 10⁷ cells were transferred into each well, and incubated for 4 days in media containing different doses of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) (AuNP positive (Ap) cells) or matrix alone (AuNP negative (An) cells). At day 8, cells were washed and incubated in media containing 54 mM (final concentration) ethanol (Ap ethanol exposed (ApEp), or An ethanol exposed (AnEp) cells) or the matrix alone (AuNP and ethanol negative (AnEn), or Ap ethanol negative (ApEn) cells) for 24 h. Then, cells were washed and incubated in media alone. At different time intervals after ethanol exposure, cells were harvested and analyzed for AuNP internalization, AuNPs’ adverse effects, and modulation of ethanol toxicity. PEG: polyethylene glycol; K: kudzu root extract; G: gum extract; KG: combination of kudzu root and gum; MTT: 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide; NFκB: nuclear factor kappa B.