Fig. 4

SZP enhances autophagy in sublethally heated HCC cells. A Diagram illustrating how autophagy was induced by SZP. B The ultrastructure of tumor cells after SZP NPs treatment observed via TEM, with autophagosomes and autolysosomes pointed out by arrows. Scale: 1 µm. C Immunoblotting of LC3B in SMMC7721 and Huh7 cells pre-treated with 3MA under sublethal heat stress caused by SZP. D Immunoblotting of LC3B and P62 in SMMC7721 and Huh7 cells pre-treated with CQ under sublethal heat stress induced by SZP. E–G Representative CLSM images and quantitative analysis of HCC cells transfected with mRFP-eGFP-LC3 plasmid under the influence of different groups (arrow pointing towards green spots, red spots, and yellow spots). Scale: 20 µm. Results were expressed as mean ± SD, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, and ****p < 0.0001. SZP, STF62247@ZIF-8/PEG-FA; TEM, Transmission Electron Microscope; 3MA, 3-Methyladenine; CQ, Chloroquine