Abstract

Luminescent Mn3[Co(CN)6]2 nanocubes doped with Cd2+ can induce  human lung adenocarcinoma cells A549 generating more metallothioneins  (MTs) than squamous cells H520. The nanocubes can be  bound to MTs and be excluded from cells for detoxification. Then  A549 cells have a lower fluorescence imaging intensity than H520  cells, which can distinguish the two kinds of cells.