Fig. 3

In vitro toxicity on normal cells and CDT performance on cancer cells of CuS:Gd NPs. a Cell viability of CuS:Gd NPs with different concentrations on the normal cells (LO2 cell) at 24 h and 48 h after co-incubation, demonstrating the well biocompatibility of CuS:Gd NPs. (n= 6, mean ± SD). b Cell viability of CuS:Gd NPs with different concentrations on the cancer cells (4T1 cell) at 24 h and 48 h after co-incubation (n= 6, mean ± SD). c Cell viability of CuS:Gd NPs with different concentrations on the normal cells (LO2 cells) at 72 h after co-incubation. (n= 6, mean ± SD). d Confocal images of DCFH-DA (2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate) stained 4T1 cells of two groups (control group and the CuS:Gd NPs group) at different times points. Scale bar: 50 μm. e Confocal images of the live and dead cells stained with calcein/PI of different groups (saline group and the CuS:Gd NPs group co-cultured with 4T1 cells for 24 h), demonstrating the well CDT capability of CuS:Gd NPs. Scale bar: 100 μm