Nanoparticle Uptake and Localization

A549 and MDMs grown in 6-well plates and 35 mm glass-bottom dish (MatTek Inc, Ashland, MA, US) were exposed to 3 mL of 60 nm SiO₂-RhodB, 200 nm SiO₂-RhodB, 60 nm PS particles ([NP] = 20 µg/mL), or Au NPs ([Au] = 20 µg/mL) previously suspended in cRPMI 1640. For experiments where µ-Slide 8 Wells (Ibidi, Graefelfing, Germany) were used (i.e., sections “Fluorescence imaging” and “Co-localization analysis”), cells were exposed to 316 µL of previously suspended NPs. ISDD model was used to estimate the particle deposition [25 (link)]. The relative densities and the diameter of each NP, based on TEM analysis, were taken in consideration. Amorphous silica, 2.2 g/cm³; gold, 19.32 g/cm³; polystyrene, 1.05 g/cm³. After exposure, cells were washed 3 times with PBS to remove the non-cell adhered NPs.