In Vitro Characterization of Pluronic F127 and D-𝜶-Tocopheryl Polyethylene Glycol 1000 Succinate Mixed Micelles as Nanocarriers for Targeted Anticancer-Drug Delivery

Figure 8

Fluorescence microscopy of cells treated with doxorubicin-loaded mixed micelles. Enhancement of apoptotic activity of doxorubicin in MCF-7 and THP-1 cells by Pluronic F127 and TPGS mixed micelles loaded with doxorubicin. Mixed micelles with various doxorubicin concentrations were incubated with both cell types for 48 hours before using Hoechst 33342 method for detection of apoptosis. At least 250 cells were counted for all the samples tested by Hoechst nuclear staining method. (a, b) they represent control cells. Cells treated with doxorubicin (c, d), 7:3 blank (e,f), doxorubicin loaded 7:3 (g,h), 5:5 blank (i,j), and doxorubicin loaded 5:5 (k,l). Horse shoe-shaped nucleus and karyorrhexis are shown (m, n) bright field image of MCF-7 and THP-1 cells showing cell damage caused by doxorubicin-loaded mixed micelles, apoptotic blebbing can be seen in THP-1 cells (o, p). Photographs were taken at identical exposure at 10x (a–l) and 400x (m–p) magnification powers.