Figure 2

Diffusivity evaluation with particle tracking analysis. The representative trajectory of nanospheres in the mucin matrix (a: low-concentration mucin; b: high-concentration mucin). The Brownian diffusion of nanospheres was hindered by the mesh of the mucin matrix when the concentration was higher. (c) The average mean square displacement (MSD) of nanospheres in saline (0.9 wt%) with different concentrations of mucin. Results show that MSD decreased with increasing mucin concentration. (d) The averaged MSD of nanospheres within the mucin matrix in saline and hypertonic saline (7% wt%) with physiologically relevant mucin concentrations of 30 mg/mL and 60 mg/mL. Data was collected form three independent experiments, N > 5 for each experimental condition.