Fig. 2: The transdermal mechanism of FCS-containing nanocomplexes. | Nature Communications

Fig. 2: The transdermal mechanism of FCS-containing nanocomplexes.

From: Non-invasive transdermal delivery of biomacromolecules with fluorocarbon-modified chitosan for melanoma immunotherapy and viral vaccines

Fig. 2

a Illustration of the HACAT monolayer cell model. b Effects of FCS/IgG on the TEER of the HACAT monolayer cell model (n = 3, each TEER was tested 3 times). c Immunofluorescence images of the distribution of tight junction-related protein ZO-1 on the HACAT cell membrane after being treated with FCS/IgG (n = 3). The white arrows indicated the allocation change of ZO-1. Scale bar: 10 μm. d, e Western blotting images showing ZO-1 (n = 4) and the phosphorylated level of MLC (p-MLC, n = 1) in cells after incubation with FCS/IgG. The raw figures were provided in Figs. S27 and S28. f The graphical representations of the relative intensity of MLC/pMLC with the addition of FCS/IgG (n = 1). g Representative TEM image of skin epithelium after being treated with FCS/IgG. The white arrows indicated the tight junctions (TJs) and the opening of TJs (n = 3). h Representative immunofluorescence images exhibiting the colocalization of keratin 14 and FCS/IgG-Cy5.5 (white arrows, n = 3). Scale bar: 200 μm. i The schematic image of the transdermal mechanisms. FCS-containing nanocomplexes could penetrate the skin epidermis through both paracellular and transappendageal routes. By the paracellular route, FCS could stimulate the phosphorylation of MLC and thus open the tight junction between epidermis cells by sealing strands of tight junction proteins. By the transappendageal route, FCS-containing nanocomplexes could cross the epidermis through hair follicles and sweat glands. All illustrations were created with BioRender.com. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.

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