Table 1 Phantom and animal tests in this study

Phantom test

• Anti-AFP reagent:

0.25 g in volume and 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.01, 0.005 emu/g in concentration.

• Phantoms:

Micro test tubes were filled with anti-AFP reagent.

• Imaging:

The fused images composed of the magnetic image for the spatial distribution of anti-AFP MNPs and the optic image of micro test tubes.

Animal tests

• Dose of Anti-AFP reagent:

0.9 g in volume and 0.3 emu/g in concentration.

• Tumor rats:

Liver tumors were implanted on backs for 2 rats and in livers for 3 rats, separately.

Anti-AFP reagents were intravenously injected through tail veins.

• Imaging:

The 2 tumor rats with back tumors were imaged in a prone position by using the dual-model SSB at 0 h.

The 3 tumor rats implanted with liver tumors were imaged in a supine position at 0 h, 24 h, and with their bellies opened at 24.5 h.

Both the stacked block and separated lobe livers of the 3 tumor rats implanted with liver tumors were magnetically examined ex vivo.

• Tissue stain:

After identifying the red-spot and no-spot regions in separated lobe livers by this dual-model SSB, small pieces of liver tissue in both regions for HE stain and AFP stain were performed.