Fig. 1

Synthesis and in vitro characterization of G6D-NAC. a Synthesis scheme for G6D-NAC. b Release profile of G6D-NAC when incubated with 10 mM GSH or in DPBS at 37 °C. ~ 90% of the NA C is released from G6D-NAC in 8 h at this level of GSH (n = 3). c G6D-NAC is more effective in decreasing NO production from LPS exposed BV2 cells in vitro when compared to NAC alone. d Cytotoxicity assessment of G6D-NAC and free NAC at 0.5–5 mM (based on NAC concentrations). BV-2 cells were pre-activated by LPS for 3 h and incubated with dendrimer or free drug for an additional 24 h. Cell viability was determined by MTS cell proliferation assay kit and presented as the viable cell percentage normalized to the control cells (without dendrimer/dendrimer conjugate treatment). *p < 0.05, ***p < 0.001