Fig. 7

Cellular uptake mechanisms and barrier function of the BBB model. A Relative fluorescence intensity (%) of Rh123/LPN-FD7 and B Rh123/LPN-CCD after the treatment of bEnd.3 cells with different endocytosis inhibitors, including CPZ (clathrin-mediated endocytosis inhibitor), DMA (macropinocytosis inhibitor), and nystatin (caveolae-mediated endocytosis inhibitor) for 1 h and then incubated with Rh123-loaded LPN-FD7 or LPN-CCD for 3 h. Values are the mean ± S.D. (n = 3). (A, B): *p < 0.05 compared with A Rh123/LPN-FD7 and B Rh123/LPN-CCD through Student’s t-test analysis, respectively. C TEER after 48 h of the treatment of various Afa formulations on bEnd.3 cells. D Permeability (%) of FITC-dextran (MW 70,000) across the bEnd.3 cells after 48 h of the treatment of various Afa formulations. C, D Values are the mean ± S.D. (n = 3). *p < 0.05 compared with CTR, ^†p < 0.05 compared with Afa, ^‡p < 0.05 compared with Afa/LPN, and ^§p < 0.05 compared with Afa/LPN-FD7 through Student’s t-test analysis