Figure 7
SEM micrographs of Hep G2 cells after exposure to GO and CXYG for 24 h. Images A and B show SEM micrographs of non-treated cells at 1500X and 5000X magnification. The scale bars in these images correspond to 10 and 3 μm, respectively. Control-cells demonstrated healthy cell morphology with numerous microvilli protruding from the cell surface. Images C and D show SEM micrographs of cells treated with 16 μg/ml GO and 32 μg/ml CXYG, respectively. GO and CXYG platelets deposited and formed a layer completely covering the cell surface. The scale bar displayed in C and D corresponds to 3 and 2 μm, respectively. Images E and F show SEM micrographs of cells treated with of 8 μg/ml GO and CXYG, respectively. At this concentration cells were only partly covered with nanomaterial. The scale bars in E and F correspond to 3 μm. The boxed-in areas (white, dotted line) are shown at higher magnification in images G and F, respectively. Image E shows the interaction of micro-sized GO platelets (white arrows) with microvilli. Image F shows the interaction of CXYG nanoplatelets with lateral dimensions between approximately 200 and 400 nm with the plasma membrane (white arrows). The scale bar in G and H is 0.8 and 0.4 μm, respectively.