Journal: Journal of Biological Engineering
Article Title: Hydrogel-mediated tri-modal nanoplatform for localized colorectal cancer therapy via smart chemo–photothermal–radiotherapy
doi: 10.1186/s13036-026-00633-0
Figure Lengend Snippet: Cytotoxic response and intracellular ROS levels induced by the multimodal hydrogel nanoplatform in CRC and normal colon cell models. (A) Dose–response curve of free 5-FU in HCT-116 cells after 48 h, determined by MTT assay and used to define the experimental IC₅₀. Cell viability was normalized to the Ctrl. For visualization on a logarithmic x-axis, the Ctrl condition is plotted at a nominal concentration of 0.1 µg mL⁻¹. (B–D) MTT-based cell viability after 48 h treatment in (B) HCT-116, (C) SW480, and (D) normal human colon epithelial NCM460 cells. Treatment groups include Ctrl, free 5-FU (5FU), non-targeted nanoparticles (NP), HA-targeted nanoparticles (tNP), blank hydrogel (Gel), hydrogel-loaded targeted nanoparticles (Gel-tNP), and Gel-tNP combined with near-infrared irradiation (NIR, 808 nm), X-ray irradiation (XR, 2 Gy), or both. All treatments were administered at an equivalent 5-FU concentration corresponding to the IC₅₀ determined in panel (A). (E) Intracellular ROS levels in HCT-116 cells measured after 48 h using CellROX™ Deep Red and expressed as fold change relative to Ctrl. Data are mean ± SD ( n = 3). Statistical significance was assessed by one-way ANOVA with multiple-comparisons post-hoc testing. Asterisks indicate comparisons vs. Ctrl (* p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001, **** p < 0.0001). Brackets indicate the specific intergroup comparisons shown (e.g., dual-modal vs. tri-modal where indicated). “ns” denotes not significant
Article Snippet: The cytotoxicity of all treatment groups was evaluated using an MTT assay in two CRC cell lines and one normal human colon epithelial cell model. HCT-116 human colorectal carcinoma cells (ATCC ® CCL-247TM, American Type Culture Collection, USA) and SW480 human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (ATCC ® CCL-228TM, American Type Culture Collection, USA) were used as CRC models, and normal human colon epithelial cells NCM460 (NCM460DTM; INCELL Corporation LLC, San Antonio, TX, USA) were used to provide an initial in-vitro assessment of relative tolerance in non-malignant colon epithelium.
Techniques: MTT Assay, Concentration Assay, Irradiation