Fig. 7
From: Photosensitizing deep-seated cancer cells with photoprotein-conjugated upconversion nanoparticles
In vivo effect of nanocomposites in tumor xenograft mouse model. a Schematic illustration of experimental timeline. s.c., subcutaneous injection; i.t., intratumoral injection. Over the course of three repeated administration periods, a 10-min light irradiation with a NIR laser (1.5 W/cm2 at 980 nm) was applied after the intratumoral injection of either UCNP-KR or UCNP-KR-LP. b Representative images of nanocomposite/NIR-treated mice with bilateral tumors on day 9 (left image) and day 21 (right image). UCNP-KR and UCNP-KR-LP was administered to left and right flanks on the dorsal side of the mouse, respectively. c Three snapshot images of tumors treated with UCNP-KR (left) or UCNP-KR-LP (right) in BALB/c mice (#1−#3) on day 21. d Tumor growth curve in UCNP-KR or UCNP-KR-LP-treated BALB/c mice for 21 days after implantation. The error bars represent the standard deviation from triple mice. The significant difference in tumor volume between the groups treated with UCNP-KR (light green, 588 ± 167 mm3) or UCNP-KR-LP (dark green, 368 ± 143 mm3) on day 21 was evaluated (*P < 0.05, n = 3, paired t-test with Shapiro-Wilk test). e Representative H&E images of tumor regions treated with UCNP-KR (top) and UCNP-KR-LP (bottom) under the NIR irradiation condition. The eosin staining highlights the presence of marked coagulative necrosis, as indicated by the red arrows. Scale bar = 100 μm