Fig. 1
Cytotoxicity of CuO NMs and CuSO4 to undifferentiated Caco-2 cells. Viability of undifferentiated Caco-2 cells was assessed using the alamar blue assay following exposure of cells to cell culture medium (control), CuO NMs or CuSO4 at concentrations ranging from 0.61 and 78.13 μg/cm2 Cu for 24 h. a) Viability of Caco-2 cells following CuO NMs or CuSO4 exposure expressed as a % of the control. b) Determination of 20% Benchmark dose (BMD 20) in μg/ml following exposure of undifferentiated Caco-2 cells to CuO NMs or CuSO4 exposure. Data was analysed using Proast 38.9 software to obtain the BMD 20. Data are expressed in mean ± SEM (n = 3) and * represents significance compared to control at P < 0.05