In all cases zymosan served as positive control. with a weightCconcentration-based extinction coefficient of 46 L gC1 cmC1 (Liu et al., 2007, 2008). 2.2. PEGylated liposomes Liposomes were composed of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and MeOPEG2000CDPPC (mole ratio 9.5:0.5) and prepared by hydrating the dried lipid film with 10 mM phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.2) and then extruded through polycarbonate Nuclopore filters of appropriate pore diameters using a high-pressure extruder. Prepared liposomes were 118 12 nm in size (polydispersity index = 0.07) as determined by laser light scattering (Moghimi et al., 2006). 2.3. Preparation of human serum Blood was drawn from healthy Caucasian male volunteers (aged 25C35 years) according to Raphin1 acetate approved local protocols. Blood was allowed to clot at room temperature and serum was prepared, aliquoted and stored at C80 C. Serum samples were thawed and kept at 4 C before incubation with test reagents. Commercially available human C1q-depleted and C2-depleted sera were obtained from Quidel (distributed by Technoclone, UK). 2.4. Assays of in vitro complement activation To measure complement activation in vitro, we determined SWNT-induced rise of serum complement activation product SC5b-9, Bb and C4d, using respective Quidel’s ELISA kits according to the manufacturer’s protocols as described previously (Moghimi et al., 2006). As a result of substantial biological variation in serum levels of complement proteins and the large number of positive and negative feedback interactions, we monitored generation of complement activation products in sera of 4 healthy individuals separately (Moghimi et al., 2006). The concentration of mannose binding lectin (MBL) in healthy, C1q-depleted and C2-depleted sera was IGFBP1 determined by using the MBL-C4 complex ELISA kit (HyCult Biotechnology, The Netherlands). Only sera with physiological concentrations of MBL, in the range of 3000C5000 ng/mL, were selected for subsequent complement activation assays. The complement haemolytic activity of C1q-depleted and C2-depleted sera was restored following the addition of C1q (180 g/mL) and C2 (650 g/mL), respectively, as assessed by the haemolytic test using sheep erythrocytes sensitized with rabbit anti-sheep erythrocyte antibody (Szebeni et al., 1994; Gbadamosi et al., 2002). The functional activity of classical, lectin and the alternative pathways of complement were confirmed in all sera with Wielisa?-Total Complement Screen kit (Lund, Sweden). For measurement of complement activation, the reaction was started by adding the required quantity of SWNTs to undiluted serum (SWNT:serum volume ratio; 1:4) in Eppendorf tubes (in triplicate) in a shaking water bath at 37 C for 30 min, unless stated otherwise. Reactions were terminated by addition of sample diluent provided with assay kit. SWNT-induced rises of serum SC5b-9, Bb and C4d was then measured following nanotube removal (to minimize Raphin1 acetate interference in ELISA tests) by carefully layering 200 L of Sephacryl S-200-HR gel (SigmaCAldrich, UK) and subsequent centrifugation. The extent of nanotube-trapping in the gel was followed by measuring the absorbance of the supernatant at 808 nm (e.g., ~70C75% of amino-PEG5000CDSPE coated nanotubes were trapped by these procedures). Subsequently, appropriate controls were also made by adding the sufficient quantities of SWNTs to saline for background correction in ELISA experiments. Raphin1 acetate The gel-trapping procedures had no effect in removing fluid phase complement activation products. Control serum incubations contained saline (the same volume as nanotubes and other additions) for assessing.