Fig. 5

Visualization and quantification of translocated DEPs across the alveolar epithelial type II (A549) cells grown on 3.0 μm porous PET membrane into the basal fraction. (a) TEM images of the translocated DEPs across the A549 monolayer in the basal fraction. The applied concentrations on the apical side of the membrane are 20, 40 and 80 µg mL⁻¹ in CCM-Curosurf solution, with and without 5 mM EDTA treatment, scale bar: 0.5 μm. (b) and (c) The percentage of translocation of DEPs across the A549 monolayer was determined with UV–Vis absorbance spectroscopy (b) and LIT (c) techniques. The means ± SD of three independent experiments performed in duplicates are displayed (N = 3)