Fig. 7

Investigations on DNA chain damage caused by AG-QDs. a, b: AFM images of DNA morphology in unexposed NR8383 cells and the cells after exposure to AG-QDs (200 μg/mL) for 24 h. The DNA chains were extracted from cells before imaging. c, d: AFM images of DNA morphology in NR8383 cells after exposure to H₂O₂ (50 μL/mL), AG-QDs (200 μg/mL) with GSH (1 mg/mL) for 24 h. e: AFM images of DNA chains that were directly exposed to AG-QDs (200 μg/mL) for 24 h. f, g: The height profiles of DNA chains as marked on the AFM images in panels (a) and (e), respectively. In panel (e), white arrows indicate the particles on DNA chains