Fig. 1

MUA-coated CdSe QDs cause increased ROS formation in NHBE cells. NHBE cells were incubated with increasing concentrations of 5 nm CdSe and InP QDs for 24 h. A significant concentration-dependent increase (p < 0.0001) in ROS formation was observed for cells treated with CdSe QDs compared to the medium only negative control (NC), shaded horizontal baseline and 100 μmol/L H₂O₂ positive control. InP QDs caused significant ROS after exposure to 20 μg/mL, but this response was not dose dependent. *p < 0.01, ***p < 0.0001. All experiments were independently repeated three times (n = 3). Error bars indicate one standard deviation from the mean (σ). Shaded baseline indicates expanded uncertainty (2σ)