Exposure to TiO2, SiO2 and PS NPs disrupted endothelial
barrier function in HUVEC. HUVEC were exposed to TiO2,
SiO2 and PS NPs at the concentrations that three types of NPs
have the same total surface area (8.76 μg/mL or 2.65
μg/cm2 for TiO2 NPs, 5.48 μg/mL or
1.66 μg/cm2 for SiO2 NPs, 2.18 μg/mL or
0.66 μg/cm2 for PS NPs). Control was treated with fresh
EGM-2. FITC-dextran fluorescence in the bottom chamber was measured after 2
hours of exposure to all three types of NPs. Mean ± standard deviation
(SD) of the sample. Data were analyzed by one way ANOVA, * represents
significant difference compared with untreated HUVEC, # denotes
significant difference between different NPs, n = 3, p < 0.05.