Fig. 3.
Uptake analysis. a Confocal images showing H69AR cells treated with the nanodrug. In H69AR cells, increased uptake of nanodrugs was confirmed. The scale bar is 75 μm. b Confocal images showing H69AR cells treated with the nanodrug and different types of uptake channel inhibitors were treated to examine uptake channels. All tested uptake pathways were identified (major: caveolae-mediated endocytosis, minor: macropinocytosis-mediated and clathrin-mediated endocytosis). The scale bar is 75 μm. c Florescence intensity (nuclear DOX uptake) analysis of H69AR cells treated with free DOX and the nanodrug. d Fluorescence intensity analysis of H69AR cells for comparison of major intracellular uptake pathways by the nanodrug. Caveolin channel was the most significant uptake channel compared to clathrin and macropinocytosis. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM (n = 6). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 and ***p < 0.001