Fig. 8.

a Detection of rheumatoid arthritis using TSPP-modified TiO₂ nanowhiskers; control sample (I), TP-0, shows no fluorescence; however, TP-0.4 (II) shows fluorescence at tibia-tarsal joint, and (III) in the infected foot. b The fluorescence intensities of different treatment groups illustrate the highest intensity for the group treated with TP-0.4. The inset shows fibroblasts from the rats’ RA joint with a bright red intracellular fluorescence. c Bioimaging and PDT properties of the TSPP and TiO₂ nanowhiskers in the rheumatoid arthritis joint. The injection of 0.4 mL of TSPP-conjugated TiO₂ nanowhiskers (TP-0.4), 0.4 mL of TSPP (P-0.4), 0.4 mL of TiO₂ nanowhiskers (T-0.4), and control group without the injection (TP-0).

Adapted from Ref. [23] with permission from the Springer Nature