Fig. 3
Intracellular localization and uptake. Cellular ultrastructural alteration and intracellular localization of Ni and NiO NPs in BEAS-2B cells was investigated by TEM (a, control cell; b with corresponding inserts b, Ni treated cell; c NiCl2 exposed cell; d with corresponding inserts d, NiO treated cell). After 48 h exposure to 10 μg Ni/mL of Ni (b) and NiO NPs (d), particles were taken up and contained within membrane-bound structures (b and d). The time-dependent cellular Ni content was investigated by ICP-MS after 10 μg Ni/mL (4 h, 24 h and 48 h) exposures (e) whereas the concentration-dependent uptake was studied following 1, 5 and 10 μg Ni/mL (48 h) exposures to Ni, NiO and NiCl2