Journal: Science Advances
Article Title: In vivo membrane engineering traps Gd-based MRI contrast agents for detecting microhepatocellular carcinoma
doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aec9913
Figure Lengend Snippet: ( A ) Representative Western blot analysis of GPC3 expression in HepG2, WRL-68, and Hepa1-6 cells ( n = 3 independent experiments). ( B ) Quantitation of relative GPC3 protein level from (A). Data are presented as means ± SD ( n = 3). Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA with a Tukey’s post hoc test. ( C ) Flow cytometry analysis of surface GPC3 expression in HepG2, WRL-68, and Hepa1-6 cells. ( D ) Representative IHC images of GPC3 expression (brown) in tumor tissues from orthotopic Hepa1-6 tumor-bearing mice. Scale bar, 50 μm. ( E ) CLSM images of HepG2 and Hepa1-6 cells treated with SPD1 or SPD2 nanoparticles (50 μM; red fluorescence) for 6 hours. Scale bars, 20 μm. ( F ) Time-dependent CLSM imaging of HepG2 cells treated with SPD1 nanoparticles (50 μM) showing membrane-localized fibrillar transformation. Scale bars, 20 μm. ( G ) CLSM analysis of HepG2 cells sequentially incubated with SPD1 or SPD2 nanoparticles (50 μM, 6 hours; red) and FITC-labeled anti-GPC3 antibody (green; 1:200; Abcam, #ab207080). Colocalization (yellow) indicates specific binding of SPD1 to membrane-bound GPC3. Fluorescence intensity and colocalization were quantified using MATLAB. Data are presented as means ± SD ( n = 3); n.s., not significant (one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test). Scale bars, 20 μm. ( H ) SEM images of untreated HepG2 and WRL-68 cells or incubated with SPD1 or SPD2 nanoparticles (50 μM, 6 hours). Magnified insets highlight membrane-associated fibrillar structures. ( I ) TEM images of untreated HepG2 cells (top) and those treated with SPD1 nanoparticles (50 μM, 24 hours; bottom). Red arrows indicate membrane-associated nanofibers. Scale bars, 500 nm. ( J ) SEM images showing the persistence of SPD1-derived fibrillar networks on HepG2 cells at 6, 24, and 72 hours posttreatment (50 μM). Scale bars, 2 μm. All experiments were independently repeated three times with consistent and reproducible results.
Article Snippet: Human HepG2 (ATCC HB-8065), human WRL-68 (ATCC CL-48), and mouse Hepa1-6 (ATCC CRL-1830) were purchased from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) and cultured in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM) (Gibco, C11995500BT) supplemented with 10% FBS (Gibco, A3161001C) and 1% penicillin/streptomycin (Beyotime, C0222) at 37°C in a humidified 5% CO 2 atmosphere.
Techniques: Western Blot, Expressing, Quantitation Assay, Flow Cytometry, Fluorescence, Imaging, Membrane, Transformation Assay, Incubation, Labeling, Binding Assay, Derivative Assay