Impact of Silver and Iron Nanoparticle Exposure on Cholesterol Uptake by Macrophages

Figure 6

NP-induced alterations in macrophage uptake of cholesterol. (a) Macrophages were exposed to 20 nm AgNPs, 110 nm AgNPs, or 20 nm Fe₃O₄ NPs at a concentration of 25 μg/mL for 2 h. NPs were removed prior to a 24 h treatment with fluorescently labeled cholesterol (20 μg/mL) in serum-free media. (b) Macrophages were exposed to 20 nm AgNP, 110 nm AgNPs, or 20 nm Fe₃O₄ NPs at a concentration of 25 μg/mL for 24 h in either serum-free media or serum-free media containing cholesterol (20 μg/mL) and cholesterol uptake was measured at 24 h. Cholesterol uptake was measured via a spectrophotometer and normalized to control cholesterol uptake. Values are expressed as mean ± SEM (/group). indicates significant difference from controls ().

(a)

(b)