Fig. 3: Size-dependent cytotoxicity and genetic analysis of Au@MIL NPs.

a The size and incubation-dependent curve of Au@MIL NPs illustrates the impact of NP size on enhancing the cytotoxic effect against Hep G2 cells over 24, 48, and 72-h intervals (n  =  3 replicates). Data were presented as the mean ± SEM, and the p-values were calculated using the two-tailed student’s t-test. b Additional cytotoxicity studies were performed by treating two normal cell lines (NeHepLxHT, M10) and three cancer cell lines (Hep G2, HA22T, and MDA-MB-231) with 100 nm Au@MIL NPs at 300 ppm for 48 h. Nuclei, live cells, and dead cells were stained with Hoechst 33342 (blue), calcein AM (green), and EthD-1 (red), respectively. These images are representative of three independent experiments. Scale bars, 100 μm. c Colony assay of 100 nm Au@MIL in NeHepLxHT, M10, Hep G2, HA22T, and MDA-MB-231 cells (n = 3, a repeated experiment). Cells were incubated with 300 ppm of Au@MIL for 72 h and maintained without them for another 14 days. The formation of clones was fixed and stained with 0.5% crystal violet, and the results were measured using ImageJ software. Data were presented as the mean ± SD, and the p-values were calculated using the two-tailed student’s t-test. d The Venn diagram of the intersection of differentially expressed genes (Benjamini-Hochberg correction, padj ≦0.05) and GO enrichment analysis in Hep G2 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Cells were treated with 300 ppm of 100 nm Au@MIL for 24 h (N) or left untreated (C). mRNA samples were then isolated and analyzed by Genomics BioSci & Tech. Co. Ltd. e Heatmap of the top 10 differentially expressed genes involved in the mitochondrial transition process in HepG2 and MDA-MB-231 cells. The * symbol denoted intersecting genes. f Heatmap of the top 10 differentially expressed genes involved in the cellular response to oxidative stress process in HepG2 and MDA-MB-231 cells. The * symbol denoted intersecting genes. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.