In vitro cytocompatibility
and anti-inflammatory
effect of DEX-loaded microPlates (DEX-μPLs). (a) ATDC5 cell
viability upon incubation with free DEX, empty-μPLs, and DEX-μPLs.
Statistical analysis via one-way ANOVA (GraphPad
Prism 5) is provided in Table S3; (b–d)
Expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6,
and TNF-α for LPS-stimulated ATDC5 cells. (−LPS: no LPS
and no μPLs; +LPS: LPS stimulation and no μPLs; DEX: LPS
stimulation and free DEX at 1 and 10 μM; and DEX-μPLs:
LPS treatment and DEX-μPLs at 1 and 10 μM). Results
are presented as average ±SD (n ≥ 4).
*p < 0.05, **p < 0.001, and
***p < 0.0001 were considered statistically significant
as compared to the control (+LPS); ##p < 0.001 and ###p < 0.0001 were
considered statistically significant as compared to 1 μM DEX; and oop < 0.001 and ooop < 0.0001 were considered statistically significant
as compared to 10 μM DEX. The lack of a statistically
significant difference between groups is indicated on the graphs as
NS. Multiple comparisons were performed using, as the post hoc test,
the Tukey’s significant difference (HSD) test; (e) 30°
tilted view of a SEM image of ATDC5 cells incubated with μPLs.
In the lateral inset, a magnified image shows cells interacting with
μPLs; (f) False-color SEM image of a μPL (red) deposited
and not internalized over a layer of ATDC5 cells (green).