Fig. 3

Cytotoxicity, release, cellular selectivity, and uptake of DDM^PlusAF nanocomposites. a and b Cytotoxic profile of a DDM and b AF performed using MTT assay on BCCs (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) at different concentrations (the values are displayed as mean ± SEM carried out in triplicates from two independent experiments), c Represent the in vitro release behavior of DDM^PlusAF at different pH = 3, 7, and 9 quantified using UV–vis spectrometry, d protein expression of CD44 in normal and BCCs, e representative flow cytometric chart reporting the expression pattern for CD44 in different groups, and f FR-α gene expression in BCCs determined by qRT-PCR. g Intracellular MgO and Fe₂O₃ uptake results in MCF-10A, MCF-7, and MDA-MB-231 cells after 24 h incubation with DDM^PlusAF at IC50 doses. h Represent TEM images of DDM^PlusAF uptake in MCF-10A, MCF-7, and MDA-MB-231 after 24 h incubation with DDM^PlusAF at IC₅₀ doses measured by AAS technique. Normal breast cells (MCF-10A) and breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231). Data are presented as mean ± SEM (n = 3). ^a1p < 0.001, ^a2p < 0.01 vs. untreated normal cells; ^b1p < 0.001, ^b2p < 0.01 vs. untreated cancer were considered significant