Fig. 3: BAQ ONNs induced lysosomal disruption and inhibited autophagy in MIA PaCa-2 cells.

a Representative images for cellular uptake of nanoparticles; Dextran-AF488-loaded cells were incubated with DiD-labelled BAQ ONNs for 2 h; experiments were repeated three times independently. b Cells were treated as indicated (10 µM, 2 h) and were stained by LysoTracker Green; experiments were repeated three times independently. c AO staining of cells within the indicated treatments (5 µM, 12 h); experiments were repeated three times independently. d Representative images of Dextran-AF488-loaded cells that were treated as indicated (5 μM, 12 h); experiments were repeated three times independently. e Cathepsin B release from isolated lysosomes after treatments as indicated (25 µM, 12 h); data are presented as mean values ± SD; n = 3. f Western blotting. g Normalised quantification analysis of gel blots in f; data are presented as mean values ± SD; n = 3. h Representative LC3B-GFP images for the indicated 4 h treatments; experiments were repeated three times independently. i Quantification of LC3B-GFP puncta per cell in h; data are presented as mean values ± SD; n = 3. j Representative TEM images of cells that were treated as indicated (2 µM, 48 h); orange rectangle: region of interest; purple arrows: autophagic vesicles; red arrows: lysosomes. k The average diameter of lysosomes; data are presented as mean values ± SD; n = 7. All statistical p values were calculated by one-way ANOVA with the Tukey’s multiple comparison test. ns., not significant; *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ****p < 0.0001.