Figure 1

Cell viability in the presence of MNPs. A. hVM cells were incubated in the presence of 250, 100 and 50 nm in diameter MNPs for 72 h at increasing concentrations, ranging from 50 to 300 μg/ml. Doses up to 50 μg/ml did not significantly affect cell viability, as evaluated by MTT assay. B hVM cell viability (by MTT assay), after 72 h in the presence of 250, 100 and 50 nm MNPs at 50 μg/ml using poly-L-Lysine (PL) and protamine sulfate (PS) as transfection agents. Only PL produced a significant decrease in cell viability. C hVM-MNPs-Cy3 treated cells were fixed after 72 h and stained with Phalloidin A488. Nuclei were counterstained with Hoechst. Scale bar 20μm. Data represent mean +/- S.E. (n = 4). (*p <0.05, ANOVA, post hoc Tukey’s test; * versus hVM cells treated with 0 μg/ml MNPs).