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Fig. 8 | Particle and Fibre Toxicology

Fig. 8

From: Differential bioreactivity of neutral, cationic and anionic polystyrene nanoparticles with cells from the human alveolar compartment: robust response of alveolar type 1 epithelial cells

Fig. 8

Interaction of UNP, CNP and ANP with the cell surface membrane of AT2 cells and MAC. AT2 cells exposed for 4 h to 50 μg/ml of 50 nm polystyrene UNP (c-d), CNP (e-f) and ANP (g-h) compared to the non-treated control AT2 (a-b). Both individual and aggregated forms of all types of NPs were observed on the cell surface membrane of AT2 cells, situated amongst microvilli (arrows in d, f, h; n = 60 cell observations). Scanning electron micrographs of control MAC (i) and MAC exposed to 50 μg/ml of 50 nm polystyrene UNP (j-k), CNP (l-m) and ANP (n-o) for 4 h. MACs were activated following exposure to UNP (j-k), CNP (l-m) and ANP (n-o). Both individual and aggregated forms of NPs were observed on the cell membrane of MACs (arrows in k, m, o). UNP triggered filopodia formation, while CNP and ANP initiated membrane blebbing. All type of NPs were observed in association with cell surface microvilli

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