Fig. 3

In vivo fate of DEX-PS in peripheral blood. a Ex vivo images illustrating Nile Red fluorescence signals in isolated whole blood. b Percentages of Nile Red-positive blood cells. c Mean and d total fluorescence intensity of Nile Red in Nile Red⁺ cells. e Percentages of CD11b⁺/Ly6C^hi cells in Nile Red⁺ monocytes (CD11b⁺/B220⁻). f Mean fluorescence intensity of CD11b⁺/Ly6C^hi subset of Nile Red⁺ monocytes. Data are presented as the mean ± SD (n = 3), * Indicates p < 0.05. COOH-PS: carboxyl-functionalized polystyrene; DEX-PS: dextran-functionalized polystyrene; PS: polystyrene