Viability of hCMEC/D3 cells treated with gold nanoparticles.

Confluent monolayers of hCMEC/D3 cells were treated for 24 hr with different levels of either glucose-coated or glutathione-coated gold nanoparticles and viability was assessed by MTT assay. Values are mean and SEM of quadruplicate determinations (n = 4). The values were analysed by Anova (p<0.001) followed by Dunnet’s multiple comparison test, comparing each nanoparticle treatment with the untreated cells (Con). Only one treatment was significantly different from the control (*P<0.001). Digitonin-treated cells (Dig) were a positive control for cell death.