Zeta potential analyzer

To investigate the influence of ApF nanoparticle loading, surface charges of the particles were measured using a zeta potential analyzer (Malvern Instruments, Malvin, UK). The surface areas of particles were measured by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) methods using nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements in a V-Sorb 2800P (Micromeritics, Norcross, GA, USA) surface area analyzer.

The morphologies of UiO-66, CM and MCM@UN were observed via transmission electron microscopy (TEM). First, UiO-66, CM and MCM@UN were diluted in water. Each sample (10 µl) was then deposited on a TEM grid and observed under a 100 kV TEM instrument (FEI Titan, USA.). The particle size distribution of the nanoparticle was evaluated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and the zeta potential was assessed by a zeta potential analyzer (Malvern Instruments, UK). Fluorescent probes were used to characterize whether 3M-052 was embedded in CM. The TLR7/8 agonist 3M-052 was coupled with a FITC fluorescent probe, the lipophilic fluorescent dye Dil (red) was used to label CM, and the unbound dye was removed by dialysis/centrifugation. The mixture was stirred at 37 °C for 1 h, after which FITC-3M-052-CM-Dil was obtained by dialysis and observed under a fluorescence microscope (Carl Zeiss, Germany). X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of UiO-66 were measured using an X-ray diffractometer (XRD, Rigaku Ultima IV, Japan) with a scanning rate of 2°/min in the 2θ range of 10–90°. CM, CM@UiO-66 and MCM@UN were first lysed in RIPA lysis buffer to collect proteins and denatured at 100 °C for 10 min. SDS-PAGE was performed after protein loading to confirm the retention of the membrane proteins.

Zeta potential analyzer (Malvern Instruments Ltd., Malvern, UK) was used to detect the NPs average size diameter, polydispersity index (PDI), and zeta potentials. SPION@Au-CS-DOX-FA was also analyzed by AFM (OMCL-RC800PSA-1, Olympus, Tokyo, Japan) at room temperature using a drop of fresh solution on silicon that was left to dry. SEM was characterized after sputter coating with Au for samples, and TEM at 200 kV accelerating voltage was employed to observe the morphological characteristics of SPION@Au-CS-DOX-FA. The samples were prepared by sticking a drop of dispersed particle suspension on the carbon-coated copper grid and allowing it to dry at room temperature. Furthermore, the prepared SPION@Au-CS-DOX-FA was evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR, Shimadzu Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) in the range of 4000–400 cm⁻¹. A vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) was used to perform magnetic tests at room temperature.

The average particle size of the HSA-NPs, both with and without hydroxyurea, was measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS) using a particle size analyzer (Zetasizer NanoZS90, Malvern Instruments Limited, Worcestershire, UK). The samples were diluted with deionized water and measured at a scattering angle of 90° and a temperature of 25 °C. The polydispersity index (PI) gave an estimate of the size distribution of the HSA-NPs. The zeta potential was measured by a zeta potential analyzer (Malvern Instruments, Worcestershire, UK) using electrophoretic Laser Doppler Anemometry. The size, shape, and surface morphology of the HSA-NPs were examined by scanning electron microscopy (MIRA 3LM TESCAN, Brno, Czech Republic, EU).

The hydrodynamic particle size of P(St-BA-VBT) nanospheres was measured by a dynamic light scattering instrument (Malvern Nano-Zs90 nano-particle size analyzer, Malvern Worcestershire, UK). The Zeta potential was determined by a Zeta potential analyzer (Malvern, Malvern Worcestershire, UK). A certain amount of P(St-BA-VBT) nanospheres samples were diluted 2000-fold with deionized water before test.

The average particle size of the HSA-NPs, both with and without paclitaxel, was measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS) using a particle size analyzer (Brookhavens Instruments Corporation, Holtsville, NY, USA). The samples were diluted with deionized water and measured at a scattering angle of 90° and temperature of 25 °C. The polydispersity index (PDI) gave an estimate of the size distribution of the HSA-NPs. The zeta potential was measured by a zeta potential analyzer (Malvern Instruments, Worcestershire, UK) using electrophoretic laser Doppler anemometry. The size, shape and surface morphology of the HSA-NPs were examined by scanning electron microscopy (Hitachi S-4700 FE-SEM, Tokyo, Japan).

The sizes and zeta potentials of the TCiGNPs were determined by a zeta potential analyzer (Malvern Instruments, Worcestershire, UK) at 173° backscatter angle.