Fig. 2

a Excitation spectra of pyrene in an AG-P-SS-P solution after incubation with GSH for different time periods (λ_em = 373 nm). b I340-to-I336 ratio of AG-P-SS-P and P-SS-P after incubation with GSH for different time periods (λ_em = 373 nm). DLS measurement (c) and TEM images (d) of AG-P-SS-P/PTX, P-SS-P/PTX, and P-P/PTX. Scale bar = 100 nm. e In vitro PTX release profiles of AG-P-SS-P/PTX, P-SS-P/PTX, and P-P/PTX in PBS (pH 7.4) without GSH at 37 °C; release profile of AG-P-SS-P/PTX in the presence of 5 mM GSH; and release profiles of AG-P-SS-P/PTX and P-SS-P/PTX in the presence of 10 mM GSH. f Retention of PTX in A549/ADR cells after preincubation with AG-P-SS-P/PTX, P-SS-P/PTX, P-P/PTX, and Taxol for different time periods. All data are presented as the means ± standard deviations (n = 3); *P < 0.05, compared with P-P/PTX without GSH, P-SS-P/PTX without GSH, AG-P-SS-P/PTX without GSH and AG-P-SS-P/PTX with GSH (5 mM) nanomicelles. *P < 0.05, compared with Taxol, P-P/PTX and P-SS-P/PTX nanomicelles, respectively