Fig. 4

NPs reduced human fibroblast migration in vitro. AgNPs and AuNPs were used as chemotactic factors for fibroblasts in transwell migration assays. Cells were permitted to migrate for 24 h at 37 °C in a 5% CO₂ incubator. Fibroblasts allowed to migrate through medium alone were used as controls (CTR). After migration, the cells at the bottom of the inserts were stained with DAPI and counted using fluorescence microscopy. Bar graphs in a show the mean ± SEM values for the number of migrating cells. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001. Representative photomicrographs of the DAPI-stained nucleus (blue staining) used for quantification of migrating cells are shown in b. Magnification, 200×