The Synthesis of Glutamine-Functionalized Block Polymer and Its Application in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treatment

Figure 4

The effect of copolymers and free DOX on MDA-MB-231 cells. (a) Cell viability of MDA-MB-231 cells treated with different concentrations of free DOX and Gln-PEG-b-PAE@DOX micelles, respectively (left), and cell viability of MDA-MB-231 cells treated with mPEG-b-PAE and Gln-PEG-b-PAE copolymers, respectively, at different time checkpoint (right). (b) Cell apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 cells treated with free DOX and Gln-PEG-b-PAE@DOX micelles. In each panel, the lower-left (Annexin V⁻, DAPI⁻), lower-right (Annexin V⁺, DAPI^-), and upper-right (Annexin V⁺, DAPI⁺) quadrants represent the populations of living cells, apoptotic cells, and necrotic/dead cells, respectively. (c) Intracellular uptake of DOX in MDA-MB-231 incubated with Gln-PEG-b-PAE@DOX micelles. (d) Intracellular uptake of DOX in MDA-MB-231 incubated with Gln-PEG-b-PAE@DOX micelles combined with 5 mg/mL of free glutamine. (e) Intracellular uptake of DOX in MDA-MB-231 incubated with Gln-PEG-b-PAE@DOX micelles (up) and Gln-PEG-b-PAE@DOX micelles combined with 5 mg/mL of free glutamine (bottom).

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