Fig. 3

In vivo anti-cancer and anti-metastasis efficacy of Mϕ-SDNP in orthotopic 4T1 breast cancer model. (A) Representative ex vivo images and (B) quantification data of fluorescence signals in the major organs and tumors of mice 24 h after intravenous injection of Cy5.5-loaded PLNPs and MϕNPs. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 Statical significance was calculated with Student’s t-test (n = 3). (C) Schematic illustration of treatment schedules for verifying anti-tumoral efficacies of Mϕ-SDNP. (D) Average growth profiles of tumors (n = 5). (E) Growth profiles of each tumor (n = 5). (F) Obtained tumors after surgical resection on day 17. G-H) Flow cytometric analysis of the primary tumor for verifying immunomodulation efficacies of Mϕ-SDNP. I) Representative immunofluorescence images of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte staining. Green = CD8, Blue = DAPI. J) Immunofluorescence image of M1 and M2 macrophage staining. Green = CD206, Red = CD86, Blue = DAPI. K) Survival profiles after treatment with Mϕ-SDNP and surgical resection (n = 5)