Fig. 4

N-GQDs caused ferroptosis following with inflammatory cytokines release in BV2 cells. a The cell viability of BV2 cells; b, c representative PE fluorescence histogram plots of BV2 cells showed necrotic cells using PI dye, and the quantitative results of necrotic percentages; d representative fluorescent images of intracellular ferrous iron level in BV2 cells showed orange using FerroOrange dye. The nucleus showed blue using DAPI. Scale bar: 20 µm; e, f representative FITC fluorescence histogram plot of BV2 cells showed lipid ROS using C11BODIPY581/591 dye, and the quantitative results of mean fluorescence intensity (MFI); g, h the levels of IL-1ß, TNF-α and IL-6 in BV2 cells. BV2 cells were pre-treated with Fer-1 for 2 h and then exposed to 100 µg/mL N-GQDs for 24 h (n = 3). Data are showed as mean ± SD of three independent experiments. The one-way ANOVA followed by the Dunnett’s t test were used to determine statistical significance (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 vs. the control or 100 µg/mL N-GQDs)