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src/contents/methods.tsx

@@ -73,13 +73,24 @@ export function Methods() {
           <H4 text="Assessing the Safety of Our LNPs "></H4>
             <p>Ensuring the safety and thorough characterization of our lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) was a central part of our project, as these particles are intended for use in biological systems. We implemented a comprehensive range of assays and techniques to assess their biosafety and physical properties, ensuring their suitability for applications such as drug delivery and gene therapy. Below is an overview of the key steps we took in our assessment.</p>
           <H4 text="MTT Assay"></H4>
+          <div className='row align-items-center'>
+              <div className='col'>
+                <figure> 
+                  <img src="https://static.igem.wiki/teams/5247/integrated-human-practices/mttassay.webp" alt="PC1" style={{maxHeight: "200pt"}}/> 
+                  <figcaption> 
+                  <b>Figure 6. </b> 
+                  MTT Assay: formation of purple formazan crystals by living cells.
+                  </figcaption> 
+                </figure> 
+              </div> 
+              <div className='col'>
             <p>To evaluate the cytotoxicity of our LNPs, we conducted an MTT assay, which measures the metabolic activity of cells. This assay is based on the ability of living cells to reduce MTT, a yellow tetrazolium salt, into purple formazan crystals through NAD(P)H-dependent enzymes. Cells were treated with various concentrations of LNPs, and after dissolving the formazan crystals with DMSO, we measured absorbance. Higher absorbance values indicate greater cell viability. Our results showed no significant reduction in cell viability across all LNP concentrations, demonstrating that the LNPs did not induce cytotoxic effects. This finding is crucial for ensuring that the LNPs are safe for biological use, supporting their potential in clinical applications such as drug delivery and gene therapy. Overall, the MTT assay provided strong evidence of the biocompatibility of our LNPs. </p>
+            </div>
+            </div> 
           <H4 text="Proliferation Assay to Monitor Long-Term Safety"></H4>
             <p>In addition to assessing immediate cytotoxicity, we also evaluated the long-term safety of the LNPs by conducting a proliferation assay. This assay tracked cell division and growth over time to determine whether the LNPs impacted cellular function. Our results showed that LNP-treated cells had similar growth rates to untreated controls, indicating that the LNPs do not interfere with normal cell processes. This further confirms their biocompatibility and suitability for use in biological systems.</p>
           </Subesction>
-          <Subesction title="Transfection Efficiency" id="Transfection Efficiency">
-            <p></p>
-          <H4 text="Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting (FACS)"></H4> 
+          <Subesction title="Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting (FACS)" id="FACS">
             <p>To assess the transfection efficiency of our LNPs, we used fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). This method involved tagging the LNPs with fluorescent markers and measuring their ability to deliver genetic material into target cells. FACS provided quantitative insights into how effectively the LNPs transfected cells, helping us optimize their design for gene therapy applications. </p>
           </Subesction>
 
@@ -95,7 +106,7 @@ export function Methods() {
                 <figure> 
                   <img src="https://static.igem.wiki/teams/5247/delivery/plasmatem.webp" alt="PC1" style={{maxHeight: "200pt"}}/> 
                   <figcaption> 
-                  <b>Figure 6. </b> 
+                  <b>Figure 7. </b> 
                   Sample preparation for SEM: sputtering in Argon plasma.
                   </figcaption> 
                 </figure>