Fig. 9

Biodistribution study by MicroCT imaging and ICP MS analysis. a Representative 3D-reconstructed whole-body CT images of mice bearing 4T1 tumors at 3 h following intravenous (i.v.) injection of GNP, GNP–VGB3, block and PBS (untreated control). The red circles and arrows indicate tumor locations. b The Au concentrations in major organs, including kidney, spleen, tumor, liver and heart, which received GNP, GNP–VGB3 and block samples quantified after 24 h using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis. The quantified results were defined based on the percentage of injection dose per tissue (%ID/tissue) and analyzed statistically by two-way ANOVA method (mean ± SEM, and n = 3, ****P < 0.0001, **P < 0.01, *P < 0.05, or ns: not significant). (Asterisk symbol (*) was used for comparison between GNP with GNP–VGB3 and block and number sign symbol (#) was used for comparing GNP–VGB3 and block)