Fig. 4: Biosynthesis of therapeutic metabolites in HSFs following treatment with FAB@MN.

A Western blot and B the corresponding quantitative analysis of HO-1 proteins in different groups (n = 3 biologically independent samples). C Molecular docking visualization of baicalin with HO-1 protein. D Quantitative analysis of intracellular heme in different groups by ELISA kits (n = 3 biologically independent samples). E Fluorescence images of CO labeled by COP-1 and Fe²⁺ labeled by FerroOrange in HSFs under different treatment conditions (Scale bar: 50 μm). F DCFH-DA staining images of different groups (green, DCFH-DA; blue, Hoechst-stained nucleus. Scale bar: 50 μm). G Apoptosis analysis of HSFs by flow cytometry after different treatments. H Statistical analysis of the cell viability of HSFs (n = 3 biologically independent samples). I Scheme illustrating FAB@MN enhanced their cytotoxic effect by recycling 5-ALA photodynamic waste heme. Data represent the mean ± SD. One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test was used for comparisons in (B), (D) and (H), and all tests were two-sided. The exact p-values have been indicated in the figures. Experiments in (E, F) were each performed thrice independently, yielding similar results each time. Source data are provided as a Source Data file. Schematic in (I) was created using BioRender. Yuan, C. (2025) https://BioRender.com/r1hiu7x.