Fig. 6

The intracellular calcium imhomeostasis caused by N-GQDs triggered ferroptosis 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) from flow cytometer analysis; g, h the GSH/GSSG ratio and MDA content in BV2 cells; i, j the levels of IL-1ß and TNF-α in BV2 cells. BV2 cells were pre-treated with BAPTA-AM 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)