“…To further explore the molecular mechanism of BSArGO@ZIF-8 NSs promoted Cal27 cell apoptosis, we use a series of varied methods to screen the apoptosis-related signaling pathways and genes. The bubble diagram based on KEGG enrichment analysis demonstrated that these DEGs were significantly enhanced in cell cycle, apoptosis pathway, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways (Figure a), which have been confirmed to play key roles in regulating cancer cell growth and apoptosis. − The heatmap showed that DEGs enriched in apoptosis signaling pathways were constituted of 11 up-regulated DEGs and 9 down-regulated DEGs, including for example Mcl1, FOS, JUN, CASP12, CASP2, BIRC3, and TNFRSF1A (Figure b). − The Pathview analysis demonstrated that BSArGO@ZIF-8 NSs alter most genes in apoptosis-related signaling pathways, including down-regulation of α-tubulin, PARP, Lamin, TRAIL, TNF-R1, FADD, and CASP10, and up-regulating JNK, CytC, and Mcl-1 (Figure c). In addition, BSArGO@ZIF-8 NSs could change pro-apoptotic gene expression, up-regulating Fas-L, Bim, HRK, and down-regulating Fas.…”