Figure 3.

Cell viability of MKN45 (A) before and (B) after PDT, and cell viability of GES (C) before and (D) after PDT. In (A–D), the filled and unfilled columns represent cells treated with curcumin only and CNP, respectively. Cell viability after PDT on MKN45 and GES cells utilizing nanoparticles (E) in the absence of curcumin and (F) in the presence of 5 μM curcumin. The concentrations of nanoparticles in (E) and (F) were the same. (G) Dose dependence of cell viability of MKN45 after CENP-PDT. In (E–G), the filled and unfilled columns represent MKN45 and GES, respectively. (H) Determination of IC₅₀. *p<0.05, **p<0.01, and ***p<0.001.

Abbreviations: CENP, curcumin-encapsulated and EGF-conjugated chitosan/TPP nanoparticles; CENP-PDT, curcumin-encapsulated and EGF-conjugated chitosan/TPP nanoparticles with photodynamic therapy; CFNP, curcumin-encapsulated folate-conjugated chitosan/TPP nanoparticles; CNP, curcumin-encapsulated chitosan/TPP nanoparticles; EGF, epidermal growth factor; ENP, EGF-conjugated chitosan/TPP nanoparticles; FNP, folate-conjugated chitosan/TPP nanoparticles; GES, human gastric epithelial mucosa (non-cancer) cell line; MKN45, human gastric cancer cell line; NP, chitosan/TPP nanoparticles; PDT, photodynamic therapy; TPP, tripolyphosphate.