Effect of Size, Shape, and Composition on the Interaction of Different Nanomaterials with HeLa Cells

Figure 2

Silica particle interaction with HeLa cells. (a) Schematic diagram of silica particles processing in HeLa cells. Particles are internalized in cells via endocytosis. In endo-lysosomes, their biocorona is degraded, and stripped particles are finally exocytosed. ((b), A) TEM characterization of the as-prepared silica particles. ((b), B) Confocal image demonstrating silica particles inside HeLa cells. (c) Confocal image where the exocytosed silica particles are detected (red arrows). The accompanying histogram shows the percentage of extracellular particles after 15, 30, 1 h, 2 h, and overnight. ((d), A) Percentage of live cells at different exposure times. ((d), B) Phase contrast image of HeLa cells presenting no detectable cytotoxicity.

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