Fig. 1
Characterization of TiO2 NPs and transmission electron microscope (TEM) observation of cellular uptake. (a) The size distribution histogram generated using SEM images showed TiO2 NPs of size between 15 and 65 nm with an average of 33.2 nm. Value are calculated from randomly measuring more than 100 particles of TiO2 NPs observed by SEM. (b) Particle size distribution of TiO2 NPs in Ringer’s solution used in vitro system and in saline used for intravenous injection showed particles of diameter with a peak of distribution at 68.1 nm and 122.4 nm, respectively (with 10% FBS in it). The results also indicated the presence of TiO2 NPs agglomerates both in Ringer’s solution and in saline. (c) Control (distilled water) and TiO2 NPs-treated RBCs were observed using TEM after 24 h treatment. The white arrowheads indicated TiO2 NPs might go through RBCs membranes and uptake by RBCs. Black scale bar: 2 μM. * represents significant differences from control group (p < 0.05)