Fig. 9
A-GQDs caused slighter ferroptosis-related damages in BV2 cells than N-GQDs. a Representative fluorescent images of intracellular iron level in BV2 cells treated with 100 μg/mL N-GQDs and 100 μg/mL A-GQDs for 24 h were identified by using FerroOrange (orange). Nuclei are stained by DAPI (blue). Scale bars: 50 μm; The effects of 100 μg/mL N-GQDs and 100 μg/mL A-GQDs treatments for 24 h on the GSH/GSSG ratio (b) and the MDA content (c) in BV2 cells were measured by ELISA; d Representative FITC fluorescence histogram plot of cytosolic ROS production in BV2 cells treated with 100 μg/mL N-GQDs and 100 μg/mL A-GQDs for 24 h were identified by DCFH-DA; e Quantitative results of mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) from flow cytometer analysis; f Representative fluorescent images of lipid peroxidation in BV2 cells treated with 100 μg/mL N-GQDs and 100 μg/mL A-GQDs for 24 h were identified by using C11BODIPY581/591. Nonoxidized lipid is represented in red, oxidized lipid is in green, nuclei are stained by DAPI (blue), merging of the red and green color results in a yellow signal. Scale bars: 50 μm; The effect of Fer-1 (g) and DFO (h) on the cell viability in BV2 cells treated with 100 μg/mL N-GQDs and 100 μg/mL A-GQDs for 24 h were measured by CCK8 assay. Data are expressed as the mean ± SE of three independent experiments, performed in triplicate. Statistical significance was determined by one-way ANOVA and Dunnett’s t test (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 vs. the control group; #P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01, ###P < 0.001 vs. the 100 μg/mL N-GQDs group)