Figure 3.

In vitro cellular uptake, intracellular fate, and cytotoxicity of DOX-loaded micelles in cancer cells. Confocal images (A) and flow cytometric analysis (B) of U-87 MG cells incubated with free DOX and DOX-loaded micelles (5 μM equivalent DOX) for 6 h and 18 h. (C) Subcellular localization of free DOX and DOX-loaded micelles in live U-87 MG cells after 6-h incubation observed under confocal microscopy (Lyso-Tracker was used to label lysosomes) (blue line in in situ FL spectra represents the fluorescence of nucleus, red line represents the fluorescence of DOX and green line represents the fluorescence of lysosome). (D) Cell viability of U-87 MG human glioma cells and SK-HEP-1 human hepatocarcinoma cells after 72 h-incubation with free DOX and DOX-loaded micelles and their IC₅₀ values. (E) Cell viability of normal and cancer cells after 72-h incubation with blank micelles. Scale bar: 10 μm. Data represent mean ± SD (n = 3). *p < .05 **p < .01 analyzed by Student’s t-test.