Fig. 4

A Optical microscope images and B quantitative analysis of the oxLDL-induced foam cells in RAW 264.7 cells after treatment with free MTX, MTX NPs, MM@MTX NPs (equal to MTX with 1 µg/mL). (Bar = 40 µm). C Cholesterol efflux from RAW264.7 cells treated with different MTX formulations. The dose of free MTX was 1 µg/mL. D CCs solubilization of PBS, free MTX, β-CD, MPEG-CD, MTX NPs and MM@MTX NPs at physical condition. Quantification of E ABCA1, F SR-B1 and G CYP27A1 mRNA levels in RAW 264.7 cells by real-time PCR. (n = 5, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001; n.s., no significance)