Co-incubation of bEnd3 cells with the different nanoparticulate formulations and LDL.

<p>*: cells without NP incubation, with LDL.</p><p>One representative experiment out n>3 is shown.</p

Specific cellular binding of the ApoE-modified nanoparticles studied by flow cytometry.

<p>bEnd3 cells were incubated with ApoE-modified nanoparticles (NP-ApoE) or control nanoparticles without ApoE modification (NP-PEG) for 4 h at 37°C and 4°C, respectively. Flow cytometry analysis was performed to quantify their cellular binding. The data are shown as histograms of the FL1-H-channel (autofluorescence of the nanoparticles) as well as in the table with the analysis of the Y mean fluorescence and the percentage of positive cells. Green: NP-ApoE, red: NP-PEG, blue: untreated control.</p

Co-incubation of bEnd3 cells with the different nanoparticulate formulations and LDL+RAP.

<p>*: cells without NP incubation, with LDL+RAP;</p><p>One representative experiment out n>3 is shown.</p

Determination of the receptor state of the bEnd3 cells.

<p>C: control only with the secondary antibody.</p

Cellular uptake and intracellular distribution of the nanoparticles studied by CLSM: split of the fluorescence channels. bEnd3 cells were incubated for 4 h with 0.1 mg/ml of the different nanoparticulate formulations at 37°C.

<p>The green autofluorescence of the nanoparticles was used for detection. The cytosol was stained in red with CellTracker™ Red CMTPX, and the nucleus was stained in blue with DAPI. Pictures were taken within inner sections of the cells. Untreated control cells: a) overlay of all fluorescence channels, b) display of the blue nucleus channel, c) display of the green nanoparticle channel, d) display of the red cytosol channel. Cells with the unspecific control NP-PEG: e) overlay of all fluorescence channels, f) display of the blue nucleus channel, g) display of the green nanoparticle channel, h) display of the red cytosol channel. Cells with the specific NP-ApoE: i) overlay of all fluorescence channels, j) display of the blue nucleus channel, k) display of the green nanoparticle channel, l) display of the red cytosol channel.</p

Co-incubation of bEnd3 cells with the different nanoparticulate formulations and LRP1 Dom II and LRP1 Dom IV, respectively.

<p>One representative experiment out n = 3 is shown.</p